More than 20 million Americans are diagnosed with asthma every year, a figure that includes more than 9 million children, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). According to the organization’s Web site, at www.nhlbi.nih.gov, asthma is a chronic disease that affects your airways. If you have asthma, the inside walls of your airways are inflamed. The inflammation makes the airways very sensitive, and they tend to react strongly to things that you are allergic to or find irritating, the site says. When the airways react, they get narrower, and less air flows through to your lung tissue. This causes symptoms like wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe), coughing, chest tightness, and trouble breathing, especially at night and in the early morning. Asthma cannot be cured, but most people with asthma can control it so that they have few and infrequent symptoms and can live active lives.

Asthma is the most common chronic health problem in the United States. It is especially common among kids. Asthma is caused by airborne allergens. These are small particles that are common in the house and irritate your respiratory system. They include dust, mold, pollen, animal dander, tobacco smoke and other airborne irritants. The key to controlling asthma is to reduce these household irritants.

Dust mites - Studies have shown that exposure to dust mites may cause a child to develop asthma. Every house has them and it is impossible to get rid of them completely, but there are some things you can do to minimize you child’s exposure:
● Make sure there is good ventilation.
● Buy allergen impermeable covers for pillows and furniture.
● Clean bedding at least once a week. Clean regularly and try to keep the house as dust-free as possible.
● Buy an air filtration system that will remove environmental allergens.
● Since humidity is favored by dust mites, use a dehumidifier.
● When cleaning dust, use a damp cloth. Cleaning dusty surfaces with a dry cloth only stirs up the dust.

Mold - Mold is a problem in most homes. Like dust, it is unavoidable, but there are steps you can take to reduce the mold in your house. Keep the house clean and make sure there is never anything left wet. Keep the humidity in the house down, and check for mold in hard-to-find places. Mold likes to grow under carpets, behind furniture, in crawlspaces and on bathroom tiles.

Tobacco smoke - Exposure to smoke in childhood may be one of the causes of asthma. The best thing you can do is to stop smoking. Failing that, at least smoke outside or when away from the house.

Pets - Many people are allergic to the hair and saliva of cats and dogs. If you are very allergic to pets, don’t have one, or restrict the animal’s access to the house. Groom your pet regularly. After petting your dog or cat, wash your hands.

Be aware of your asthma

The only way to prevent asthma is to be aware of it. Millions of asthma suffers go undiagnosed, or are diagnosed too late.

Common symptoms of asthma include

● Trouble breathing or catching your breath.
● Persistent coughing or sneezing.
● Wheezing.
● No sense of taste or smell.
● Dark patches around the eyes.
● Constant ear or sinus infections.