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Medical Author:

Irina Petrache, MD

Medical Author:

Catherine Sears, MD

Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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Symptoms of asthma during pregnancy are the same as those of asthma at any other time. However, each woman with asthma responds differently to pregnancy. You may have milder symptoms or more severe symptoms, or your symptoms may be pretty much what they are when you aren't pregnant.

In general, asthma triggers are the same during pregnancy as at any other time. Like the situation with asthma symptoms, during pregnancy sensitivity to triggers may be increased, decreased, or stay about the same. These differences are attributed to changes in hormones during pregnancy. Common triggers of asthma attacks include the following:

• Respiratory infections such as a cold, flu, bronchitis, and sinusitis: Both bacterial and viral infections can trigger an asthma attack.



• Cigarette smoke (firsthand or secondhand)



• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or regurgitation of stomach contents up the esophagus or "food pipe"



• Smoke from cooking or wood fires



• Emotional upset



• Food allergies



• Allergic rhinitis (hay fever or seasonal allergies)



• Changes in weather, especially cold, dry air



• Exercise



• Strong smells, sprays, perfumes



• Allergic reactions to certain chemicals



• Allergic reaction to cosmetics, soaps, shampoos



• Allergic reaction to irritants, such as dust/dust mites, molds, feathers, pet dander, etc.

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