Asthma Attack? These 8 Uncommon Triggers May Be the Culprit.
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November 7, 2015Asthma Attack? These 8 Uncommon Triggers May Be the Culprit.
People with asthma know it can be triggered by a number of different things. For example, dust, pollen, and cigarette smoke are all common triggers of asthma attack.
There are a number of asthma attack triggers, however, that may just be hiding in your home. Find out what these uncommon asthma triggers are below.
1. Sunscreen
Check your sunscreen to see if it contains benzophenone, octocryline, or para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA). If it does, throw it away. Chances are your sunscreen could cause allergies, which in turn, could cause your asthma to flare. Doctors say the smell of sunscreen could also bother people with asthma.
2. Plastic Water Bottles
Still using plastic water bottles? Check if they’re made with bisphenol A (BPA). If so, it’s time to go BPA-free or stainless.
A research published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology studied BPA exposure of children from the womb until they were 7 years old. The researchers found that kids exposed to the chemical after birth were more likely to develop asthma.
3. Antibacterial Soap
Using antibacterial soap? It may be time to downgrade to ordinary soap, which is just as effective as antibacterial soap, by the way.
Antibacterial soap contains a synthetic pesticide, triclosan. This harsh chemical can cause an asthma attack as well as overkill good bacteria.
4. Spices
Spices make food taste better. But for people with asthma, spices could spell disaster, from itching to swelling to asthma flares. One case study noted how certain spices caused asthmatic reactions in a person who works preparing some kinds of sausage.
5. Wall Paint
Paints contain potentially harmful chemicals like solvents and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These chemicals release toxic fumes that can worsen asthma and sinusitis.
6. Air Fresheners
Air fresheners promise to make our homes smell fresher, but the VOCs in them could worsen symptoms of asthma. According to Dr. Stanley Fineman of the Atlanta Allergy & Asthma Clinic and the former president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, some air fresheners contain more than 20 VOCs; and organic or green air fresheners may also contain these chemicals. Read the label carefully.
7. Incense
Some people say burning incense gives them peace, but not if you have asthma. According to researchers from the University of North Carolino at Chapel Hill, incense emit pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and formaldehyde that irritate the lung and worsen asthma symptoms just as if you were getting an attack from cigarettes.
8. Vinyl
Do you use vinyl flooring or vinyl shower curtains? If you do, you might be more prone to asthma attacks. Vinyl contains DEHP, which is a kind of phthalate, that researchers think could be the cause of an asthma flare. Phthalates have been found to be associated with asthma in children.
How about you?
