text: how can u tel the difference between an asthma attack and a cold?   asthma attack: severe wheezing when breathing both in and out coughing that won't stop very rapid breathing chest pain or pressure tightened neck and chest muscles, called retractions difficulty talking feelings of anxiety or panic pale, sweaty face blue lips or fingernails  recognizing asthma triggers  asthma triggers are everywhere in our environment: indoors, outdoors and in the very air we breathe. identifying triggers, however, is not always simple. it usually involves a process of elimination. a good place to start is a consultation with your doctor. ask for guidance. your doctor may recommend a skin test for allergies.  a vast range of triggers can set off symptoms of asthma. chief culprits include dust mites, air conditioning (which cycles offending substances into the air we breathe) and cat dander. individual asthmatics, however, tend to have their own "red-alert" triggers.  common allergic asthma triggers the following is a partial list of common asthma triggers:  alcohol  air conditioning  animal saliva and urine  atmospheric ozone  betel-nuts  bird, dog and cat dander  chemicals (e.g., hexachlorophene, formalin, ethylene diamine)  cockroaches  cold air  colds and upper respiratory tract infections  drugs (especially aspirin, cimetidine, antibiotics, beta blockers)  dust mites & their droppings  emotional upset  exertion (especially if strenuous and in cold air)  food additives or preservatives (e.g., tartrazine, sulfur dioxide)  fungal spores  fumes (e.g., paint)  gastroesophageal reflux (gerd)  gum acacia  hair particle proteins  high humidity  kapok and feather fillers (e.g., in pillows and cushions)  metals (e.g., cobalt, platinum, nickel)  nuts  plastics  pvc  ragweed pollen (particularly in the u.s.)  rubber  sawdust (especially oak, boxwood and cedar wood dust)  shellfish  smoke pollution  solvents  stress  strong odors  temperature/humidity changes  tobacco  tree and grass pollens.    common cold: the symptoms of a common cold include sneezing, runny nose, nasal obstruction, sore or scratchy throat, cough, hoarseness, and mild general symptoms like headache, feverishness, chilliness, and not feeling well in general. cold symptoms are due mainly to the body's response to the infection. when a nasal cell is infected by a cold virus, the body responds by activating parts of the immune system and some nervous system reflexes. colds last on average for one week. mild colds may last only 2 or 3 days while severe colds may last for up to 2 weeks.