As the parent of a child with asthma, keeping your child safe and healthy is a top priority. You do your best to make sure your child understands his or her asthma management plan and asthma action plan. You take steps to rid your home of things that might trigger an episode. You check up on whether your child is using medication as directed. And still you can’t help wondering if a severe, life-threatening asthma episode (status asthmaticus) may strike.

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Only about 1.1% of Americans are allergic to peanuts (the most common food allergen), according to the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. That may sound like a small number, but 1.1% translates to about 3 million people — and that’s just peanuts. Milk, wheat, egg, soy, and seafood are also well-known food allergens. Plenty of other foods have been known to provoke allergic reactions as well.

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Are you stressed out? In our increasingly fast-paced culture, it’s hard not to feel pressured now and then. Stress can make you tired, irritable, and overwhelmed, but the negative health effects don’t stop there. Chronic stress can put you at a greater risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. And if you already have a medical condition, stress can worsen your symptoms. Over 40% of Americans have stress-related health problems, according to the American Psychological Association.

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People who snore are usually the last to know. It may take some gentle nudging from a bed partner, or a little teasing around the breakfast table before you realize you’ve joined the millions of Americans sawing away each night. In some cases, however, what you don’t know (or can’t hear) may hurt you. While snoring is often a natural result of aging, it may also signal an underlying sleep disorder.

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The conventional wisdom about allergies is to avoid triggers whenever you can, but when it comes to their pets, many people don’t consider “allergen avoidance” an option. Over 40% of people with animal allergies will not give up their pets, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology reports (and some surveys put that percentage far higher). By taking steps to reduce animal allergen and your exposure to it, you may be able to live comfortably with your pets — and your asthma or allergies.

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Imagine one place where you always could breathe freely. Some might think of the Colorado Rockies, but those with nighttime asthma episodes might choose someplace closer to home, namely, the bedroom. Once you and your health care provider have pinpointed the allergens and irritants that trigger your asthma episodes, especially nighttime episodes, the bedroom is the best place to get started with environmental control.

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Spring: the sun emerges from hibernation, green shoots of grass appear in the winter-browned fields, brilliantly colored flowers finally open their buds. And about 10% of Americans stock up on over-the-counter antihistamines to treat their springtime allergy symptoms — watery and itchy eyes, coughing, runny noses, sneezing, and general misery.

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Vacation travel can be as stressful as a major life change — especially when you can’t take a deep breath. But with a little planning, taking asthma on the road is easier than you might think. Star athletes do it all the time, safely and with few major inconveniences. It’s a matter of making a few phone calls and packing thoughtfully. Here are some tips for air and car travel.

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