THESE 4 SURPRISING THINGS COULD BE MAKING YOUR ASTHMA WORSE

With 1 in 9 Australians suffering from asthma, we have one of the highest rates of the condition in the world. So, chances are that even if you don’t have it yourself, you have friends or family members who do. Most people are familiar with the common causes asthma flare-ups, including physical activity, cigarette smoke and airborne dust. But there are a few lesser known causes that can trigger asthma attacks, too. Here are 4 of the most surprising causes.

1. The weather

The term ‘thunderstorm asthma’ went mainstream last year, due to a string of fatal asthma attacks in Melbourne. While this is usually a very rare occurrence, it sometimes happens in spring due to the combination of high pollen and rapid changes in wind. Most alarmingly, thunderstorm asthma is known to affect people who have no previous history with the illness. However, it’s not just extreme weather conditions that can trigger asthma attacks. Both cold, dry air and humid air have been shown to shown to cause coughing and wheezing in asthmatics.

2. Stress

When you’re stressed out, you’re likely to have more frequent and severe asthma attacks. This happens for a couple of reasons. Firstly, when you’re stressed, nervous or anxious, it can cause changes in your breathing habits. This can lead to hyperventilation, which can trigger asthma symptoms. Another is that when you’re stressed, your immune system tends to take a nosedive– which can make you more vulnerable to an asthma attack caused by external triggers.

3. Highways

Taking a long road trip? If you’re asthmatic, you’re definitely going to to want to remember to pack your ventilator. Research shows that asthma attacks are most common in people who live close to busy highways, due to the exposure to pollutants and air exposure. Similarly, if you’re spending a lot of time time travelling along congested highways it may lead to an asthma flare-up. Closing your car window and turning your air con onto recirculate can help to reduce your exposure.

4. Your laundry products

In regularly washing your sheets (to ward off asthma-inducing dust mites), you may actually be doing yourself more harm than good! This is because many laundry detergents and powders contain allergens that can induce asthma attacks. Aware Sensitive laundry has been approved by the National Asthma Council of Australia’s Sensitive Choice ® program, thanks to its low-allergy formula. The washing powder avoids common additives like fragrances, optical brighteners, dyes and enzymes that can stick to your clothes and cause health issues. The best thing is, the formulation does not contain any palm oil or palm oil derivatives, and is not tested on animals, so you can be confident that you’re making a better choice for allergy and asthma sufferers in the family, as well as the environment.