Although there is no certain way to prevent asthma, you can reduce airway inflammation and your risk of asthma attacks.

The goal is to reduce the number, length, and severity of asthma attacks. Start by avoiding your asthma triggers. Also be sure to:

• Get a flu vaccine every year. Have your family members get one too.
• Get the pneumococcal vaccine. The vaccine may not prevent pneumonia, but it can prevent some of the serious complications of pneumonia.
• Avoid taking aspirin, ibuprofen, or other similar medicines if they increase your asthma symptoms. Think about using acetaminophen (Tylenol) instead. (Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20 because of the risk of Reye syndrome, a rare but serious problem.)
• Be alert to foods that may cause asthma symptoms. Some people have symptoms after eating processed potatoes, shrimp, nuts, and dried fruit, or after drinking beer or wine. These foods and liquids contain sulfites, which may cause asthma symptoms.

Asthma: Identifying Your Triggers

Irritants in the air

Common irritants in the air, such as tobacco smoke and air pollution, can trigger asthma attacks in some people. They include:

• Some household cleaning products. If a cleaning product seems to trigger your asthma, stop using it. Or use another product that doesn't cause symptoms.
• Air pollution. Consider staying inside when air pollution levels are high. Avoid indoor irritants in the air (such as fumes from gas, oil, or kerosene or wood-burning stoves).
• Tobacco smoke. If you have asthma, try to avoid being around others who are smoking, and ask people not to smoke in your house. This helps children, too, since exposing young children to secondhand tobacco smoke makes them more likely to get asthma.

Exercise

Exercise is an asthma trigger for some people. If you often have asthma attacks when you exercise, use your inhaler 10 to 30 minutes before you start the activity so you can avoid an attack.

Avoid exercising outdoors in cold weather. If you are outdoors in cold weather, wear a scarf around your face and breathe through your nose.