Reasons (Triggers) For Lack Of Control

Exposure to environmental factors can trigger and exacerbate asthma. It is important to help patients/families identify—and possibly avoid—factors that may precipitate worsening of asthma symptoms. If these factors cannot be avoided, patients/families should be alerted to the potential need for increased treatment. 

Examples of asthma triggers include:

• Environmental factors such as exposure to allergens, tobacco smoke, indoor or outdoor pollutants and irritants

• Viral infections

• Compliance with medication regimen and understanding of when to use rescue inhaler

• Other comorbidities

• Social determinants of health

See factors that make asthma worse from current asthma guidelines and AAP policy statements and literature, including:

• GINA 2023 Box 3-9, Non-pharmacological interventions1 

• NAEPP 2007 Figure 3-17 Assessment Questions for Environmental and Other Factors That Can Make Asthma Worse2 

• AAP Tobacco policy statements and technical reports

• 2016 Pediatrics article, Indoor Environmental Control Practices and Asthma Management

Also consider aeroallergen sensitivity testing to identify triggers as needed.

¹Global Initiative for Asthma. Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention, 2023. Available from www.ginasthma.org.