Reduce triggers.
Follow your Asthma Action Plan.
Take your preventer medications everyday if prescribed. 

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House dust mites

Dust mites are tiny insets that live in dust, and many people are allergic to their droppings. It may cause sneezing, itching eyes, runny noses, and trigger asthma. Blood tests can be arranged, but people often know that dust triggers their symptoms. To reduce dust mites at home:

  • Avoid cushions, soft toys, rugs and other fabric items which collect dust
  • Especially consider removing soft toys/cushions from around the bed if symptoms are worse at night
  • Wash bedding regularly at 60 degrees to kill dust mites.
  • Use damp cloths to wipe away dust, and vacuum regularly.
  • Keep windows open to avoid damp and humid environments
  • If you can, avoid second hand mattresses/bedding, use hypo-allergenic bedding, swap carpets for hard floors, and buy air filters/purifiers, and HEPA filtered vacuums

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Pollen

Allergies to tree, grass and weed pollen can cause hayfever and worsen your asthma. Hayfever sufferers can experience sneezing, runny noses, and itchy eyes. Those whose asthma is triggered by pollens will likely benefit from a daily antihistamine such as Cetirizine and a steroid nose spray during hayfever seasons - see your GP for more information on this. 

Good asthma control with preventers if prescribed is crucial. Keep your reliever inhalers (usually blue) on you, and stay away from pollen triggers - e.g. avoiding open windows and avoiding going out in parks/gardens when pollen counts are high.

See the Pollen calender below to know when tree and grass pollens are at their highest

 

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See Met Office Pollen forecasts to know when pollens are highest in your area

 

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Pets and animals

People who are allergic to pets and animals are more likely to be allergic to their dander, which are proteins in animal skin flakes. People can be allergic to just one animal type or many - from cats, dogs and horses, to rabbits, hamsters, mice and gerbils, and birds.

Keeping away from pets and animals and noticing difference in symptoms can be an easy way to tell. Blood tests for allergens can be arranged.

Good asthma control and taking preventers if prescribed is crucial. An antihistamine may also help prior to contact with animals / pets. Pets should be kept outside as much as possible and away from beds and bedding. Pets should be bathed  regularly, as well as their soft toys, cages and soft furnishings. Keep windows open if possible, and if you can, buy an air filter and/or vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter.

You can find some helpful leaflets from Allergy UK by clicking here

Next go to - Environmental Triggers