First of all, asthma is a condition where inflammation and swelling occurs on the inner surface of airways (bronchi) in the lungs. This swelling is also accompanied by excessive production of mucus and sometimes by contraction of the smooth muscles in the tiniest lung airways (bronchioles). Symptoms of an asthma attack include wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. Asthma can be a serious, even life-threatening condition for some people, and affects over 6% of U.S. children.
An asthma trigger is anything that stimulates an asthma response in an individual. Triggers may vary from person to person. There are many potential kinds of asthma triggers, including tobacco smoke, cold or warm air, perfume, pet dander, moist air, exertion, or even stressful situations. Asthma triggers can also include allergens--something a person is allergic to.
Both pests and pesticides can serve as asthma triggers. In recent years researchers have discovered that both feces and shed exoskeletons of insects (both of which can be components of house dust) can be important allergens and asthma triggers for some people. Dust mites, cockroaches and house mice are among the most important pest-related asthma triggers. Aerosol household chemicals, including pesticides, can also serve as asthma triggers for some people.
