1. Keep Irritants Out
If pollen or other natural allergens bother you, try to breathe recirculated air instead of air carrying particles that may trigger an asthma attack. You should keep the windows in your home and in your car closed on days with a high pollen count, and run your in-home or in-car ventilation or air conditioning system instead. This will limit the amount of irritating substances you inhale.
2. Stay Inside
For some, spring and summer are deadly times of year. The air is thick with allergens and high pollen counts occur week in and week out. You can manage your seasonal asthma symptoms by staying indoors as much as possible when these substances are in the air. Pay attention to the pollen forecast in your local weather report to anticipate when levels are expected to be particularly high, and use preventative treatments like antihistamines, antiallergic drugs and corticosteroids as directed by your doctor.
3. Cover Your Mouth
You can't always stay inside, so if you have to head out to run errands or take care of some housework, think about wearing a dust mask. Used properly, a dust mask will dramatically reduce the amount of airborne pollutants you inhale, leading to less constricted breathing and more manageability of your extrinsic asthma symptoms.
4. Keep Things Clean
Dust and mold can make your extrinsic asthma symptoms worse. Since you're unlikely to be able to avoid seasonal asthma triggers altogether, you can mitigate the damage they do by maintaining a clean home environment. Use a damp cloth to wipe up dust on at least a weekly basis, and make sure to vacuum thoroughly and often.
5. Use Your Medicine as Directed
Of course, the best way to treat your symptoms is to follow your doctor's advice. If you have been given corticosteroids to take during asthma season, make sure to use them as directed. You should also always make sure that your bronchodilator inhaler is within easy reach during troublesome times of the year.
