“Asthma-Proofing Your World,” many people get asthma attacks when they come in contact with certain “triggers,” or substances to which they are sensitive. These triggers can also increase your airways’ sensitivity, leaving your lungs inflamed and more prone to asthma attacks in the future. Again, inflammation happens over time, quietly, so you may not even realize your asthma is slowly getting worse
There are two basic types of asthma triggers: allergic and no allergic. Most asthma triggers fall into the first category. When you have allergic asthma, your body overreacts to certain substances with a predictable inflammatory response. The most potent allergen triggers come from the dander, saliva, and droppings of pets; house-dust mites; and cockroaches. Other allergens include molds and pollen. No allergen triggers can be strong odors (paint or perfume, for example), outdoor air pollutants, and tobacco smoke.
Why do triggers matter? If you can avoid the triggers that aggravate your asthma, you can stay healthy with the least amount of medicine possible. And when you’re pregnant, that’s a good idea. Asthma medications, when taken at the right time, dosage, and type, are safe during pregnancy. Still, it’s wise to limit the amount of medication you and your baby receive in order to prevent side effects.
Asthma triggers are different for different people.
Working with your doctor, you’ll learn which triggers affect you the most. Here are just a few steps to take while you’re pregnant. Depending on your asthma, some, but not all, of these tips will apply:
- Don’t smoke, and don’t sit near anyone who is.
Not only is cigarette smoke a potent asthma trigger, but it also decreases your lung function. And the chemicals in tobacco smoke can cross the placenta, affecting your baby’s lungs, too. Every pregnant woman should avoid smokers and smoking.
- Consider removing pets from your home.
We all love our pets. But if you’re allergic to animal allergens (like pet dander), then your dog, cat, and even birds or mice, may make your asthma worse. Even if you remove the pet from your house, its dander can linger for several months. A 3% tannic acid spray can help clean out remaining allergens. At the very least, keep pets out of your bedroom and keep the bedroom door closed at all times. If you plan to keep your pet, washing it once a week may help. If your friends have pets, ask your doctor about taking asthma medicine before visiting their homes. Protect yourself from house-dust mites.
These mites give off an allergen that can spark asthma problems. The house-dust mite allergen makes its way into bed mattresses, covers, pillows, carpets, upholstered furniture, clothes, and soft toys. If you are allergic to this allergen, you should take steps to avoid it. Avoid other allergens.
Mold and cockroach allergens can both cause asthma attacks in some people. Keeping your house clean and dry (with a dehumidifier) may make allergens less likely to build up in the home. You can avoid some outdoor allergens, like pollen, by staying inside during the afternoons in warm summer months. Keeping windows shut and air conditioning on also may help.
Some people with allergic asthma find relief in immunotherapy, in which you receive a small amount of an allergen (in a shot) until your body gradually gets used to that allergen. If you’re pregnant and already receiving allergy shots, your doctor may tell you to continue. Side effects are rare. Occasionally, however, a person getting allergy shots has a bad reaction, called anaphylaxis. To prevent anaphylaxis, your doctor may suggest you do not begin immunotherapy for the first time while pregnant. After your baby is born, you can try allergy shots.
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