Asthma

Allergens, like pollen and pet dander, can cause allergic asthma.

Non-allergic asthma is caused by respiratory infections, irritants like smoke, and other triggers.

Physical activity, especially when it’s intense, can cause exercise-induced asthma, also called exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. Your asthma may be worse when you exercise in cold weather or when there’s pollen or pollution in the air.

Occupational asthma is caused by substances you inhale at work that irritate your airways, like dust, paint, wood, plastics, and other chemicals.

In this type of asthma, your only symptom is a persistent dry cough. It can be triggered by exercise, cold air, and changes in the weather.

Some people with asthma experience more severe symptoms when they take aspirin or another nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) also causes recurring nasal polyps and other symptoms, like chronic sinus infections.

Asthma can occur with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a disease that causes damage to your lungs or airways.

Having a parent or sibling with asthma increases your chances of experiencing it yourself. You’re also more likely to have asthma if you or family members have been diagnosed with eczema or allergies, like hay fever.

An asthma attack can be triggered by something in your environment, which can vary depending on the type of asthma you have. Pet dander, pollen, mold, dust, cold weather, cigarette smoke, and air pollution can bring on symptoms. Sometimes exercise or chemicals in food, like sulfites, trigger symptoms. If you have AERD, aspirin and other NSAIDs can cause worsening symptoms.

The common cold, the flu, COVID-19, RSV, and other conditions that affect your respiratory system can make asthma worse.