Less Talked About Triggers
1. Thunderstorms. You may be surprised to learn that the rate of hospitalization for asthma attacks increases after a thunderstorm. Allergist and immunologist Dr. Myron J. Zitt explains in Everyday Health, this is because airborne allergens are released and spread during a thunderstorm.
2. Laughing or crying. Expressing intense emotions is one of the best parts of being human. But be careful next time you laugh so hard you cry. According to Dr. Zitt, heavy laughter and intense crying “is a form of hyperventilation, which, like exercise, tends to trigger an asthmatic response.”
3. Stress. Stress is bad for your overall health, and can be especially dangerous to asthma sufferers. Everyday Health reports a massive study of more than 200,000 people found that psychological stress is strongly linked to asthma symptoms.
4. Food additives. There are many reasons to choose whole fruits and vegetables over packaged foods. Dr. Zitt warns food additives that contain the word “sulfite” in them (used to preserve, color, and flavor food) are among the most asthmatic. Deli meats high in nitrates, yellow food coloring containing tartrazine, and MSG are other food additives linked to asthma.
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