Perhaps a close family member or friend was one of the nearly two million Americans who sought emergency medical help for asthma in 1995. If so, he or she may have been diagnosed with status asthmaticus, described by the Journal of the American Medical Association as a severe, life-threatening asthma episode.

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Since infants and toddlers can’t take asthma medication on their own, the task of delivering medication usually falls to you, the parent. And in most cases, this requires learning how to use a nebulizer, a device that breaks down medicine particles into the best size for absorption into the airways. A nebulizer delivers the custom-mixed aerosol through a mouthpiece or face mask.

You may have seen a nebulizer used in hospital settings. Before using one at home, ask your child’s doctor (or other health care professional) to demonstrate the technique. Then, try it yourself with someone from the doctor’s staff looking on to offer feedback.

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From pollen spores to dust mites, an invisible army of allergens is lurking in your plush wall-to-wall. While a simple footfall can send these potent allergens airborne, the updraft they crave most may be the one you least expect: your vacuum cleaner exhaust.

Logic says that vacuuming your carpet should remove airborne allergens from your home. Problem is, many allergy-provoking particles are as invisible to your vacuum cleaner as they are to you. Why? Because microscopic allergens escape the average vacuum cleaner through the exhaust and blow back into the air you breathe.

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What do paint thinner, antifreeze, pesticide, bleach, and disinfectant have in common? All of these common household items contain chemicals that can irritate your eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. If you have asthma or respiratory allergies, breathing the fumes and strong odors produced by these household products can trigger or worsen symptoms.

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Is your home a sanctuary? Or is it a place where asthma and allergies might worsen? Even the most mundane daily activities, like cooking, cleaning, or running the air conditioner, can spread indoor pollutants throughout the house, especially in modern tightly built homes. Here’s how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends you handle some of the major sources of indoor air pollutants.

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Americans are getting a lot less sleep these days, and it isn’t necessarily because of all those 10- or 12-hour workdays. The U.S. population is getting older. And as baby boomers age, they may notice certain changes in their sleep patterns. They may have trouble falling asleep or sleeping through the night, or they may find themselves waking up in the wee hours of the morning. According to a study by the National Institute on Aging, over half of Americans over 65 report having at least one chronic sleep problem.

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Researchers have found that exercise can trigger symptoms in as many as nine out of ten children with asthma. Does that mean a child with asthma can’t exercise safely? Absolutely not. It means asthma needs to be controlled, so the child can participate fully in everyday active play, exercise, and even team sports. The myth of the miserable asthmatic child sitting on the sidelines is just that — a myth.

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“Can I try out for the softball team?”

If you are the parent of a child whose asthma is triggered by exercise, answering this simple question may make you nervous. Can softball be risky? Is there adequate adult supervision? Does the coach know enough to spot an emergency? Will my child be safe?

These are normal concerns for the parent of a child who has exercise-induced asthma (EIA). Keep in mind that most parents have similar concerns about their child’s safety. You may have felt some of the same fears on the first day of preschool. It might help you to know that kids with asthma can exercise safely as long as their asthma is under control.

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City life: the excitement, the action, the opportunities. But if you’re one of the millions of Americans with asthma or allergies, living in an urban area can also mean respiratory problems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the number of asthma cases has more than doubled since 1980, with rates highest in the inner cities, especially among African Americans and children.

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You won’t get any red flares or orange cones before you run into an asthma-related roadside emergency (although you may notice a warning sign or two). Yet any time you travel with asthma or allergies, you should be prepared to find medical care if needed. Furthermore, your travel partner should be prepared to take action on your behalf.

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