Environmental Asthma Triggers
Both indoor and outdoor asthma triggers can cause asthma attacks. Most people spend 90% of their time indoors which makes managing indoor asthma triggers very important (
EPA, 2022). Review the Eight Principles for Healthy Homes below to learn more about common indoor asthma triggers and tips for reducing those triggers.
You can monitor outdoor triggers by knowing your area’s daily Air Quality Index (AQI) to protect yourself and your loved ones from unhealthy air. An AQI measures air pollution levels to notify communities when air quality is dangerous. AQI uses 6 types of air pollution to determine air quality including ozone (smog) and particulate matter. Particulate matter is made from tiny particles of pollen, dust, ash, vehicle exhaust, and other air pollution sources (ALA, 2022).
The American Lung Association also provides this State of Air Report for Indiana.
Common Asthma Triggers
Indoor:
- Secondhand smoke
- Mold
- Pets
- Strong odors/fragrances
- Dust mites
- Certain chemicals
- Cockroaches
Outdoor:- Wood Smoke
- Pollen
- Ozone (O3)
- Particulate Matter (PM 2.5)
- Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
Asthma Management
Asthma is overwhelming, but not unmanageable. Well-managed asthma improves a person’s quality of life with many people experiencing very few symptoms day-to-day. There are resources available for you and your family to manage asthma at home, at school, and at daycare. Indoor asthma triggers are triggers you can personally manage every day, while outdoor triggers must be monitored.
Scroll down to find resources about Asthma Triggers and Management.Indiana Asthma Maps
In order to tackle the effects of asthma in Indiana, a series of
Indiana Asthma Maps depicting areas with poor Air Quality, High-Traffic volumes and counties with ER Visits due Asthma for Children 5-17 was developed. These maps will help our Environmental Health Associate, Katya, provide opportunities for education around the environmental triggers of asthma to these people in these counties. Thank for your continued support. For any questions, concerns, comments, or feedback, please contact,
kdrake@hecweb.org or call 317-981-6048.
