Watts Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that causes the airways to be extra sensitive. This means that, when triggered, the airways can become inflamed, narrow, and fill with mucus — which is sometimes described as feeling like you’re breathing through a straw.

In my case, it’s a lifelong condition, but it is mostly well controlled with regular specialist monitoring and by sticking to an asthma management plan.

💥 Watts Causing It?

Asthma can be triggered by a mix of genetic, environmental, and physiological factors. In my case, asthma is classified as moderate persistent, and it’s triggered by a wide range of exposures and conditions, including:

🌿 Allergens
Pollen, dust mites, pet dander (yes — even if your pet is really cute), mould spores, grass seeds, cockroach allergens
🧠 Emotions
Stress, anger, anxiety, crying
🍟 Food Triggers
Certain foods, artificial colourings, preservatives (e.g., sulphites)
🦠 Infections & Medical Conditions
Colds, flu, other respiratory infections, GERD (reflux)
🌫️ Irritants
Smoke (cigarette, bushfire, wood smoke), strong smells (perfumes, cleaning products), air pollution, ozone
💊 Medications
Aspirin, NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen), beta-blockers, some anaesthetics (both general and local)
🏃‍♀️ Physical Activity & Weather
Exercise (especially in cold or polluted air), cold air, sudden temperature changes, thunderstorms

🏢 Workplace Triggers
Chemical fumes, dust, wood dust, metal salts

My triggers span many areas of daily life — from weather and air quality to medications and emotional stress — so I follow a formal asthma management plan and continue using my preventers even when I’m feeling well.

🧩 Related Conditions

Asthma doesn’t usually show up alone. In my case, it overlaps with several other conditions that affect my airways, immune system, and response to environmental triggers. If you want to understand how these pieces fit together, you might also want to explore:

• Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE)
• Hereditary Alpha Tryptasemia (Hat) & Allergies
• Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)

…or you can also head over to my blog for stories about what it’s really like navigating all of this.

You can also visit the Helpful Links page for resources and organisations I’ve found useful along the way.

Disclaimer:
I’m not a doctor — just someone with a lot of medical letters on my file and a few too many hospital wristbands. Everything shared on this site comes from my personal experience living with complex chronic conditions. It’s not medical advice, and it shouldn’t replace professional guidance. Always speak to your healthcare team before making any treatment decisions (especially if it involves sparkles, spreadsheets, or ice cream therapy).