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Asthma can be a scary thing. Your airways tighten up and breathing becomes increasingly difficult. For someone without this disease, it is hard to understand the importance of being in control and having the proper treatments available to you. As you read on you will see some great ideas on how you can better manage your asthma.

Use plastic covers on pieces of your bedding. Your bedding can contain harmful allergens that can make it difficult for you to breathe properly. Wash your bedding regularly and invest in a clear plastic cover. Cover your mattress and possibly even your pillows with this cover. You will breathe easier at night.

When traveling by air, keep all of your asthma medications in your carry-on, and put this bag under the seat in front of you. This ensures that the staff will be unable to lose your medications. It also gives you access to your meds during times when you can't get into the overhead bins, such as during take-off and landing.

Keeping your house free of dirt and dust can help you breathe easier. By removing things that irritate your lungs and keeping your dwelling clean, you can avoid a little bit of your breathing problems. Don't let people smoke in your house, and keep it clean to avoid asthma a little more where you live.

Although this may seem counter-intuitive, sometimes it's helpful to learn how to run. Many people who have incorporated some form of running into their life have experienced fewer asthma attacks on the whole. By running you condition your body to deal with a smaller amount of oxygen on a more frequent basis, which can help it to adapt to the environment.

You might think that using a fan will help you breathe better. If you do not dust your house properly, using a fan will cause the air to carry dust particles. This may cause you to experience difficulties breathing. You should always dust your house before you use a fan.

Watch out for food additives, especially MSG (monosodium glutamate) and metabisulfite. These additives can cause a reaction in people with severe asthma. This food allergy often goes unnoticed because MSG can be a "hidden" additive, showing up under a variety of names. These include ingredients such as hydrolyzed protein, autolyzed yeast, and calcium caseinate.

If you suffer from asthma, avoid contact with pets, especially cats. Pet dander can be a major trigger for asthma attacks. Even a visit to a friend's home who has a pet can cause your symptoms to flare up. So the best thing to do is to avoid situations where you are exposed to pet dander.

Be careful of taking common medications if you have asthma. Many can trigger an asthma attack. Among these are things like aspirin, beta-blockers, ibuprofen, various migraine medications, cold medications and more. Always consult with your doctor before taking any over-the-counter medication. In fact, you should see your doctor about any medical questions to be sure you are taking proper care of yourself.

Keep your vaporizers and humidifiers clean. If you have asthma, you might already own and use a vaporizer or humidifier. They can be very handy with making the air in your home easier to breathe. Make sure you keep them clean though. They will do you no good if they are dirty.

Managing your asthma should be something that makes you feel more in control and puts you at ease about living your day to day life. Having a great treatment plan in place and knowing what you can do makes all the difference. This article has given you a lot of information to try and if it will make you feel better talk to your doctor.