People with asthma have trouble breathing. This is because of a problem with the airways (the breathing tubes in the lungs. Airways can get swollen and full of mucus.
triggers make asthma symptoms start or get worse. Triggers are things like:
Triggers don't hurt most people, but they can make someone with asthma cough, wheeze, and have trouble breathing. Triggers don't cause asthma (no one knows exactly what does), but they can lead to asthma flare-ups.
If you have asthma, your doctor will help you figure out what your triggers are. It's important to learn how to control the triggers in your house. This is especially important in rooms where you spend a lot of time, like your bedroom.
Keeping the air at home clean is important. It can contain irritants (say: EAR-uh-tunts), such as:
Air pollution and pollen are triggers that can come into your home from outside if you leave your windows and doors open in warmer weather.
How can your family make sure the indoor air is clean?
Dust mites are tiny insects that live in dust. You'll find lots of them where there is food, in some kinds of bedding, and in rugs. Bedrooms usually have the most dust mites in a house.
You and your family won't be able to get rid of all the dust mites at home but you can take these steps if they're a trigger for your asthma:
Mold is a type of tiny living thing that is kind of like a plant. It grows very well in damp places like bathrooms and basements. Mold makes more mold by sending what are called spores into the air. Mold spores can be an asthma trigger.
The key to getting rid of mold in your home is keeping things as dry as possible. Your parents can:
Animals can be a big asthma trigger. The animal parts that can trigger asthma symptoms are dander (skin flakes that are kind of like dandruff), saliva (spit), urine (pee), and feathers.
If your pet is an asthma trigger for you, these tips might help:
If you try all these things but still have lots of asthma flare-ups, you may need to find another home for your pet.
And pets aren't the only living triggers at home — cockroaches can be a major asthma trigger that can be difficult to avoid in apartments. If cockroaches are a problem:
You want to be comfortable at home — where you spend most of your time — so try to remove as many asthma triggers as you can. When your house doesn't cause asthma flare-ups, it really is home, sweet home!
Reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2017