Many teens who have asthma may have symptoms when they are around animals with fur, especially cats and dogs. Some other substances in the environment can be triggers because they irritate the airways just like allergens do. These include chalk dust, paint fumes, perfume, and cigarette smoke . In some people, an infection can trigger asthma - for example, if a teen with asthma gets a cold or flu infection , his airways will be much more sensitive than normal. Even cold air can sometimes be a trigger and cause certain people to have asthma symptoms.
Some teens have what is known as exercise-induced asthma .
With this type of asthma, a person will have a flare that is triggered by exercise or physical activity, including sports. The teen may not have any reaction to typical allergens like dander or mold, but if he exercises, he may have an exercise-induced asthma flare. This type of asthma can be especially frustrating for teens because it's during exercise when a person needs air the most . This can lead to a severe medical emergency or even death, in some rare cases. When a teen begins to have symptoms of asthma, he must stop the activity he's doing.