My last set of tips for the asthmatic gardener was really popular so I offer 10 more tips for the upcoming planting season. Utilizing these tips may help prevent worsening your asthma symptoms. These 10 tips from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology can prevent seasonal allergies from worsening your asthma and keep you in the garden longer:

1. Think about limiting pollen producing shrubs and trees from your garden. You will be exposed to 10 times the amount of pollen with a pollen-producing tree in your own yard compared to the the same tree planted down the street.
2. Goggles and or pollen masks may prevent "mowing" allergies. If severe enough and you can afford it, it may be just better to have someone mow for you.
3. Try to eliminate flowering weeds.
4. Frequent watering can decrease the amount of molds and allergens that become airborne.
5. Consider using alternative mulches like fine gravel instead of straw mulching.
6. Common allergy producing plants that may worsen your asthma include: amaranthus, coneflower, crocus, elderberry, juniper, peony, poppy, and privet.
7. Plants that might be better for your asthma include: azalea, begonia, bougainvillea, cacti daffodil, daisy, dahlia, gladiola, Irish moss, iris, lily, marigold, narcissus, orchid, pansy, petunia, snapdragon, sunflower, tulip, violet, and zinnias.
8. Consider planting female trees in your yard to attract and then trap incoming airborne pollen from male plants.
9. If you have pets, keep them away from outside plants and trees. Pollen may get in your pets fur and in y our house increasing your exposure.
10. If you have high pollen-producing plants, keep them away from entrances to your home including doors and windows.

Jerome Bettis has achieved significant things in his career as a NFL football player:

• 13,662 rushing yards over his career- 5th all-time
• Third in the NFL with 3428 rushing attempts
• Won the Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award in 2001
• Super Bowl Champion

What many people did not know is that he also has asthma and works very hard to keep it under control. According to an interview published in 2006 in Asthma Magazine, he was diagnosed with asthma when he first went out for football and his symptoms were well controlled after beginning medication. Like many young people, he began not keeping a close eye on his asthma in college and had a severe asthma attack during a game that required oxygen and an injection to help him breathe better.

Jerome Bettis now works with the American Lung Association to promote asthma awareness.

Photo © Streeter Lecka/ Getty Images

According to the Walmart Pharmacy Website for their $4 prescription plan, Walmart has a HFA albuterol inhaler for sale for $9. This would be a significant cost reduction compared to currently available rescue inhalers since the CFC to HFA transition.

Have you tried to access this reduced cost inhaler?

Significant increases in asthma have been seen over a large portion of the United States from 2001 to 2008 according to a study preformed by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and presented at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).

According to the study 19 states had significant increases in the 3-year average prevalence of asthma with the highest increases in Oklahoma and Alabama (both about 2%). The only state that demonstrated a decline over the 3 year period was Nevada.

In the press release lead study author Teresa A. Morrison, MD, MPH stated "This state-by-state analysis of annual trends in asthma prevalence is important for public health planning and for generating hypotheses to determine risk factors for this common condition."

Why do you think asthma is on the rise? Leave a comment or go to the forum and join the discussion.