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Allergens & Irritants
There are many triggers for asthma and the most common are some of the same triggers that can cause allergies. These triggers can be found both indoors and outdoors.
A great way to identify your triggers is to keep an asthma diary.
Here are some of the most common indoor asthma-allergy triggers:
Molds like to grow in dark, damp places such as your basement, garage, under the kitchen sink, in leaky pipes, in garbage pails, and even in vaporizers and humidifiers.
Source: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
Dust mites are tiny organisms that live in dust. They can be found almost everywhere indoors -- in carpet, bedding, upholstered furniture, stuffed toys and mattresses.
All furry and feathered animals shed dander, or tiny flakes of skin. The dander often mixes with dust and can stay around your house long after the animal is gone. Proteins in the dander can trigger asthma symptoms. These proteins are also found in animal urine, feces and saliva.
Source: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Cockroaches and other insects can shed very potent allergens. Cockroaches like to live in dark, damp places, especially where there is open food. Certain stinging insects also can trigger life-threatening allergic shock reactions in people who have asthma.
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