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Home / Know your triggers

Know your triggers

Are you allergic?

Around two out of five Australians have allergies, including most people with asthma. Allergies tend to run in families but family members may not have the same response.

Allergies occur when a person’s immune system reacts to substances (allergens) that are harmless to most people.

These triggers can affect:

  • Breathing – asthma and hay fever
  • Skin – dermatitis, eczema and hives
  • Eyes – allergic conjunctivitis
  • Whole body – anaphylaxis (rare but very serious)

Common allergy triggers

Most people are allergic to more than one trigger and sometimes the response is different, so you could get itchy eyes around cats but a runny nose during pollen season. The severity of the allergic reaction varies between people and depends on the circumstances. A reaction may not be immediate.

If you think you are allergic, speak to your doctor to help identify exactly what triggers your allergies and how you can best manage this. For example, you may have worked out you are allergic to pollen because you get hay fever in spring, but you may not know which plant is the culprit. Your GP or an allergist can do tests such as skin prick testing or serum-specific IgE (RAST) allergy tests to identify the trigger.

The best way to avoid an allergic reaction is to avoid the trigger that causes it, but this is not always possible. However, reducing exposure to your allergy triggers may make your symptoms easier to manage.

Bear in mind that efforts to avoid or reduce allergy exposure can be costly, time-consuming or impractical, and may not work for every person or circumstance.

If you’re keen to try, the first step is to know what triggers your allergies so you can focus your efforts in the right area.

Dust mites

Dust mites like moderate temperatures and high humidity. They are found in bedding, flooring, window coverings and furniture. Their poo is the main culprit and is small enough to become airborne when stirred up.

Read more

Mould

Mould needs long periods of humidity to grow. Houses in tropical areas or with rising damp may be more at risk. Poor ventilation may mean a bathroom or built-in robe can produce mould, even if not in humid areas.

Read more

Pets

Cats and dogs are the most common cause of pet allergies. Guinea pigs, rabbits, birds, mice and rats can also trigger asthma or allergies in some people.

Read more

Pollen

Trees, grasses and other wind-pollenated plants are the source of the most troublesome pollens. For many people, spring is the worst time, but some plants produce pollen in other months of the year.

Read more

Smoke

Both cigarette and wood smoke can cause or worsen asthma symptoms.

Bushfires: Read more Smoking and Asthma: Read more

Chemicals (VOCs/PGEs)

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may not be good for your lungs and are best avoided. Propylene glycol and glycol ethers (PGEs) may also be harmful. VOCs and PGEs are usually found in paint and cleaning chemicals. The main risk occurs when contents are wet or drying.

Read more

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  • The Blue Butterfly

    • What is the Sensitive Choice blue butterfly?

    • About Sensitive choice

    • Expert panel

    • A global program

    • Contact us

  • Asthma & allergies

    • Living with asthma & allergies

    • Know your triggers

    • Creating a healthy home

    • News

    • FAQs

  • Concerns

    • Air quality

    • Asthma and allergy

    • Building and renovating

    • Cleaning

    • Hay fever

    • Healthy home

    • Healthy living

    • Indoor humidity

    • Weather events

    • All concerns

  • Products & services

    • Air Treatment

    • Babies and children's products and services

    • Bedroom

    • Building and renovating

    • Cleaning

    • Flooring

    • Furniture

    • Health and personal care

    • Indoor environmental control

    • Laundry appliances

    • Vacuum & deep cleaners

    • Water Filtration

    • All products & services

  • Partnerships

    • For business

    • Why join us?

    • How to join

    • Expression of interest

    • Marketing tools

    • Our partners

Sensitive Choice is a program of the National Asthma Council Australia.
National Asthma Council Australia 2023.

Suite 104, Level 1,
153-161 Park Street
South Melbourne VIC 3205

(03) 9929 4333

[email protected]

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