A nurse is caring for a college athlete who was recently diagnosed with moderate persistent asthma. Which common asthma trigger should the nurse teach this client to avoid?

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In clients with asthma, the airways are chronically inflamed with varying degrees of airway obstruction that can be exacerbated by exposure to triggering agents. Common asthma triggers include: Allergens: Dander (eg, cat, dog), dust mites, pollen Drugs: Beta blockers; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, including aspirin Environmental: Chemicals, sawdust, soaps/detergents Infectious: Upper respiratory infections Intrinsic: Emotional stress, gastrointestinal reflux disease Irritants: Aerosols/perfumes, cigarette smoke (including secondhand smoke), dry/polluted air (Option C) Clients must be able to identify their individual triggers and avoid or learn to manage them. (Options A and B) Penicillin antibiotics and latex-containing products may commonly trigger allergic reactions in many clients but do not commonly trigger asthma exacerbations in clients without these allergies. (Option D) Although physical activity is an asthma trigger, athletes with asthma do not need to avoid activity altogether. Rather, they may take an inhaled bronchodilator 20 minutes before activity to help prevent exercise-induced asthma attacks. In addition, this client may be prone to minor musculoskeletal injuries (eg, sprains, strains) due to an active lifestyle; the nurse should teach about alternatives to common over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications that may be used for analgesia (eg, acetaminophen [Tylenol]). Educational objective: The nurse should teach an active young adult with asthma to identify and manage common triggers of asthma attacks, including cigarette smoke and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. Clients with asthma should take an inhaled bronchodilator 20 minutes before athletic activity to prevent exercise-induced asthma attacks.

A Nurse Is Caring for a College Athlete Who Was