From the article: 23 COPD Triggers That May Worsen Your COPD
From grass cuttings to pet dander, COPD triggers are anything that worsens your COPD symptoms. What are your specific COPD triggers and more importantly, how do you avoid them in your daily life? Share Your Triggers
Several Triggers
- There are so many triggers for exacerbations for me: laughter, talking, particularly when socializing with friends. I have to leave for a quiet room to recover my oxygen levels, then return. This happens every 15 minutes or so. Lifting, bending, too many!
- —Guest Ziggy
Rural Area Adds More
- A lot of the ones listed but this rural area adds grain/harvest dust, hog and poultry confinement stench and algae blooms in the lakes.
- —penstemon52
Secondhand Smoke
- When walking up to a store and someone is smoking it takes my breath away. I have to stop walking because it's hard to breathe after smelling the smoke.
- —Guest artie47
Household Cleaners & More
- Household cleaners, especially ones used for limescale removal. Have switched to roll on deodorant because spray ones affect me. Also perfumes, after shaves, smoke of all kinds. Some extreme weather conditions especially cold and rain and wind. All of these give me a tickly cough leading to shortness of breath.
- —trixie52
Pepper
- Ground black pepper - just realized it this week but I have had reaction in the past and blamed everything but the right thing.
- —beagle6
Personal triggers
- Stress, Stress, Stress! Plus all the above mentioned!
- —Guest Mary Q
OUT THERE
- When I'm out and about and there is a very 'strong' perfume aroma my lungs will start to tighten. Those electrical room deodorant Plug-Ins. I can handle a very 'light' Vanilla scent. Also, if I'm Hurried, my lungs tighten.
- —Guest Marj
House Cleaning Products
- I've noticed it is house cleaners like Clorox cleaner and any perfume will make me short of breath
- —Guest artie47
Bad Perfume and More
- Bad perfume/after-shave. Extreme heat and humidity. Extra cold drinks. Other people in a huge rush or walking real fast. Unexpected surprises. Going to the doctor. I'd swear all of these literally cause me to hold my breath sometimes (could be a flight/fright thing) which impacts breathing.
- —Beeden46
Too Many Triggers To Count
- My worst triggers are heat/humidity, very cold air, exercise. The best way for me to avoid them is to stay indoors, but this can lead to depression. Using my Nebulizer just before going out, or just before engaging in physical activity often helps to prevent SOB. I have a tendency to panic when I become SOB. Talking myself into relaxation will help to break the cycle with this. My Doctor has also given me Xanax to help when I know in advance that I will be under greater stress and likely to panic. It is important that meds like this be used only as a last resort, as they can slow breathing, and some can become dependent on them. I use Xanax very sparingly, relying more on good relaxation techniques when I feel I'm losing control. Before leaving the house, always double-check to be sure you have your inhaler with you! Nothing induces panic more than realizing you are without your inhaler when you need it! If you go for a walk, take a cell phone. If you get SOB, you can call for help.
- —shelleyb2154
Grass Clippings and More
- Grass clippings, candle scents, cleaning products, mold, high temps and humidity.
- —Guest sam ala
Extremes
- Any kind of extreme . . . too hot, too cold, too wet, too dry. Same thing with smells . . . too strong, too hot, too fizzy, too . . .
- —kookykathy
Cold Air
- Cold, frosty air quickly brings a tightening feeling in my lungs, reminding me of my limitations.
- —lazylar
Quick Change in Environment
- When I go from an air-conditioned environment to an outside area I immediately feel the effects. If I do this and immediately do anything the least bit strenuous I get extremely out of breath but if I sit down first and let my body get adjusted to the change I seem to do better.
- —jimvel
Smoke From Leaf Burning
- Anything smoking or burning. It is leaf burning season here in East Texas and it cuts off my breathing.
- —franceslford
Lingering Smoke Smell and Stress
- Leave the room until the smell goes away. Same for stress but harder to "leave". Worse is people in your life make plans which you know are going to be a difficulty. More often than not, the plans are easy to do things for 5-10 years ago but now are not. I find myself thinking about problems which can arise....when can I use the nebulizer? Will there be a place to stop...etc. Routine chores around the house become worries. I think for a man especially, the inner reaction is "suck it up" you can do this. But then reality hits..... "How hard is this going to be? How short of breath will this make me? Why don' t these people ASK FIRST?.......all are the types of questions I ask myself and before you know it, I'm SOB probably from thinking and overanalyzing. I try my best to relax first before reminding the people (and myself) that folks with COPD may not look sickly, but that triggers can make it very, very tough.
- —bobschroeder
