Are you one of the approximately 25 million people living in the United States affected by asthma?
Asthma is a chronic disease that causes inflammation and swelling of the airways. This results in narrowing of the airways from the nose and mouth to the lungs, which can lead to shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and chest tightness or pain.
For people with asthma, certain stimuli, also called triggers, can exacerbate these symptoms.
According to a recent study in Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology, "Strong evidence has linked exposure to allergens commonly found in homes, such as those derived from dust mites, cockroaches, rodents, molds, and pet dander, to sensitization and subsequent asthma incidence and morbidity. Exposure to indoor allergens is widespread, with >92% of homes containing sufficient concentrations of at least 1 allergen in dust to cause symptoms in sensitized individuals and 46% with exposure to 3 or more."
In order to properly manage asthma in children and adults, it's important to know your specific triggers and do your best to limit your interaction with them. This infographic illustrates the five most common indoor asthma triggers.
A preview of the infographic is below. You can download the full-size version using the link at the bottom of the page.