Guest Author - Cheryl Tidball, DO
Most asthmatics are familiar with common respiratory attack triggers such as dust mites, pollen, colds, pet dander, and cigarette smoke. However, researchers are finding other risk factors which may be more surprising and equally dangerous.
• Thunderstorms—Multiple studies support the existence of “thunderstorm asthma.” It has been observed that there is a significantly higher incidence of asthma-related hospital admissions during and immediately following a thunderstorm. This is felt to be primarily due to a rise in the fungal spore count in the air during turbulent weather conditions. Turbulent winds may stir up previously unreleased fungal spores, but older spores in the ground may also become resuspended and float in the air. While this may not be a preventable trigger, asthmatics should monitor when their asthma exacerbations occur, perhaps using preventative medications if weather is indeed found to be a factor.
• Weight—Even as little as a five pound weight gain in the previous year has been associated with increased exacerbations of asthma. If this is discouraging to many, think about this in reverse—as little as a five pound weight loss may decrease the incidence of asthma exacerbations!
• Receiving Antibiotics as an Infant—Some studies have found that children receiving more than four courses of antibiotics before the age of one year are 1 ˝ times more likely to develop asthma by age seven years. Antibiotics disrupt the normal microflora and alter the protective barrier function of the inner lining of the intestines. This in turn may allow allergens to reenter the body and increase inflammation. Particular classes of antibiotics called broad-spectrum cephalosporins seem to cause more problems than other antibiotics. Most upper respiratory and ear infections in young children are caused by viruses and do not respond to antibiotics, so parents should ask their child’s physician to prescribe antibiotics only when necessary.
• Traffic—Children without a parental history of asthma are more likely to develop asthma themselves if they grow up near a busy road. It is unknown why this particularly occurs in children without a family history of asthma. Communities need to be aware of how traffic patterns may be influencing the health of our children and make decreasing vehicular emissions a top priority.
Asthmatics and parents of asthmatic children need to be continually aware of how seemingly innocent factors in their environment may be triggering asthma attacks. Although many asthma triggers are not able to be eliminated, many can be at least minimized.
