Triggers in the air include factory smoke and car exhaust fumes, cigarette smoke, e-cigarette (vaping) emissions, fly sprays, strong perfumes and aerosol cleaning sprays.
Smoking can increase asthma symptoms, increase the severity and number of asthma flare-ups, and make it harder to achieve good control of your asthma.
Exposure to tobacco smoke is linked with wheezing in new born babies (0-3 months), increased frequency and severity of asthma symptoms in children with asthma, as well as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDs).
Exposure to electronic cigarettes (vapes) is also a trigger for asthma. We are still learning about the long-term safety of vaping. However, research has so far found that vaping and second-hand vaping can irritate the lungs, cause coughing and worsen symptoms of respiratory conditions like asthma.
Some building materials and home furnishings give off fumes that can make asthma worse. This includes formaldehyde which can be found in some paints, wall boards, medium-density fibreboard (MDF), adhesives and more. It is recommended to use building products without formaldehyde and to use low emission building products.
Paint and other coatings can be a major source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and may cause respiratory irritation. We recommend low (or no) VOC paint and thoroughly airing freshly painted rooms.
