Ventilation is crucial. "The building of tightly-sealed houses
over the last two decades has made it much easier for moisture
and dust to collect in homes," Harvard professor Dr. Douglas
Dockery notes. Many vapors trapped indoors, from perfumes and
air fresheners to formaldehyde from particleboard, irritate
asthmatics. When itís fresh or even cold outside, keep windows
open a crack to circulate air. On hot days, close windows and
use air conditioners to ventilate and filter out smog. Donít
harbor dust mites. Microscopic dust mites and their droppings
are a potent allergen and asthma trigger. One of the best ways
to limit the amount of dust mites in your homes are to encase
mattresses with impermeable covers. For more tips, see How to
Reduce Dust Mites in Your Home. Eradicate cockroaches and keep
clutter to a minimum. Piles of dirty clothes make a growth
environment for mildews and mites; piles of paper attract
cockroaches. Remember, you can eliminate household pests without
using toxic pesticides. Maintain hu