Animals
All warm-blooded animals produce dander ( shedding skin , fur , and feathers ), urine , saliva , and droppings – all of which contain allergens that can trigger allergy and / or asthma symptoms .
How can you minimize these allergens ?
• Don ’ t have furry pets in your home .
• If you do have a pet , keep it out of your bedroom and off upholstered furniture .
• Consider using HEPA ( highefficiency particulate air ) filters in your heating and air conditioning system and replace them monthly . Be sure they are sized correctly for your system .
• Keep pets off carpets as much as possible .
• Wash pets weekly and brush them outdoors , away from people with pet allergy .
Exercise
While exercise is important for all people , some people with asthma find it triggers asthma symptoms .
What can you do to prevent this ?
• Do warm-up and cool-down exercises 5 to 10 minutes before and after strenuous exercise .
• Talk to your health-care provider about medicine you can take 15 to 30 minutes before exercising to prevent asthma symptoms .
• Talk to your health-care provider about your symptoms if they persist when you exercise , as they may be caused by non-asthmarelated conditions ( such as vocal cord dysfunction ), or you may need additional medication .
Remember that regular exercise can improve your lungs and overall health . So don ’ t assume you should discontinue exercise if it triggers your asthma . Instead , work with your health-care provider to develop a safe and healthy exercise program .
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