Keeping your asthma under control means keeping your triggers under control. But to do that you have to be your own detective and find the triggers in your life.
There are lots of different types of triggers, but let's look at a few of the most common ones and learn what you can do to manage them. Let's get going...
Here's a biggie: Smoking. If you smoke, work toward quitting as soon as you can. If people in your life smoke, help them quit or at least not smoke in your home or around you. All right, what's next? Hmm... Pet Dander: If you have pets, take a pet holiday.
Have your pets stay with a friend or family member for a while to see if it helps. Let's keep going. Ah...Dust Mites: They're tiny, but they can be a big trigger. So you can try special mattress covers and bedding. Hmm... Okay...
Ooh...Cockroaches: Yep, they're a trigger. Don't leave your food-or your pet's food-lying around. Clean up spills, and keep your trash in a closed container. All right... What do we have here? Seasonal Allergies: They've got a real reputation for trouble, so talk to your doctor about having the right allergy medicine or getting allergy shots. And if your medicine doesn't seem to help, check on changing or adding medicine. Okay... Any other triggers here? Oh yeah...
Outdoor Air Pollution: When air turns bad, try to stay inside with the windows closed.
Remember, don't try to figure out your triggers all at once. Choose one trigger at a time, make a change, and see if your symptoms get better. Then you can repeat the process with another trigger. By doing a little detective work, you can manage your triggers and live better with asthma.
