Ways to Avoid Asthma Triggers & Prevent Asthma Attacks

Grass, Tree, and Weed Pollen

Pollen travels on the wind, so your best bet to avoid pollen is to stay indoors in the air conditioning on hot, dry, windy days. Your local weather reports will tell you when pollen counts are high. You can also check pollen levels on the Internet by going to sites such as www.Pollen.com. If you must go out, try to do so in the evening, when pollen is less likely to be in the air in high numbers. When you come in, shower and change clothes. Never hang laundry outdoors during pollen season, or it may collect pollen spores.

Mold Spores

Molds grow both indoors and outdoors and love damp, dark places. To control mold indoors, keep basements, kitchens, and bathrooms as clean and dry as possible. Avoid the use of humidifiers and vaporizers, which can become breeding grounds for mold. To avoid outdoor molds, stay inside in air conditioning on damp, windy days. Avoid playing or walking in fallen leaves and you may also have to avoid gardening.

Dust Mites

Dust mites can live almost everywhere in your home, but they especially like warm places like bedding, upholstered furniture, carpeting, and stuffed toys. Encase pillows and mattresses in zippered, plastic, dust-proof covers. Wash bedding weekly in hot (hotter than 130 degrees F) water. Use a vacuum outfitted with a high-efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA) to keep dust from flying around in the air.

Pet Dander

The best way to avoid contact with pet dander is to avoid all furry and feathered animals. If you do have a pet, then keep it out of the bedroom and – if possible – out of living areas too. Brush and wash it weekly, or better yet, have someone else do it for you. If you are allergic to feathers, you should also avoid feather pillows. If you have a cat, get someone else to empty the kitty litter for you. Cat urine is a strong allergen.

Secondhand Smoke

Secondhand smoke is one of the most dangerous and irritating asthma triggers around. One of the most caring things parents of children with asthma can do for their children is to quit smoking. Even if you do so, smoke can linger for weeks, or even months, in the house. If you must smoke, never smoke around your child, and if possible confine it to the outdoors.