When it comes to avoiding your asthma triggers, you may want to rely on your nose to help guide you. This is because many products that can set your asthma symptoms into gear have a fragrance that your nose may find difficult to bear.
Triggers Exist Everywhere
If your nose and your lungs are especially sensitive to scent, they can be easily irritated by a wide range of fragranced items that are in high supply in most environments. In fact, a large portion of asthmatics say that the smell of certain things can indeed make them sick. Some of the common products they name include:
- Perfumes
- Scented soaps and lotions
- Hair products
- Cleaning supplies
- Laundry detergents
- Paint and markers
Reactions Happen
When you come into contact with these and other scented item, the exposure may prompt you to have an allergic reaction, including an asthma attack. When this happens, your body has an immune system response to the product. In some cases, though, the fumes don't involve your whole body but rather irritate the sensitive tissue in your nose and lungs. Either way, you will find yourself struggling with narrowed airways, increased mucus and other typical asthma symptoms, leaving you feeling very sick.
Avoidance is Key
Once you know the culprits that exist, it isn't all that hard to take charge in your home setting so you can eliminate these products from your daily routine. You don't have to do without many of the items in question but can instead shop for organic options that specifically say they are fragrance free. Many of these can be found in better health food stores, grocery stores and specialty shops. Just keep in mind that while you can control your exposure at home, it can be extremely difficult to avoid coming into contact with these scented items when you step outside the walls of your home.
Protect Yourself
The experts recommend that if you have family, friends or co-workers who use scented items that trigger your asthma symptoms, it is worth making an effort to talk with them about how these products make you feel and asking if they could select scent-free alternatives when they will be in your presence. To make your point, you should be prepared to give concrete examples of the things that bother and the types of symptoms they trigger. You may also want to do a search online and print out educational information that goes into more detail about the connection between scents and asthma and other health issues. Most people will be respectful of your sensitivities and will be willing to comply with your request.
Some workplaces and schools will also work with you to implement a scent-free environment on a larger scale, which can include asking everyone to go scent free, and also eliminating cleaning products and other items that can make you feel sick.
Be Prepared
Beyond these basic steps, remember that it is also important to take your allergy and asthma medications as directed to help to prevent your asthma from kicking in. You should also always carry your fast-acting relief inhaler wherever you go so you will be prepared in case your symptoms should flare.
