Weather and atmospheric conditions can affect how easy you breathe so pay attention to forecasts. Living with asthma is much easier when smoke is eliminated from the home and work place, as well. If at all possible, avoid smoke at work and don t allow smoking at all within the home. When living with asthma, it s almost impossible to breathe easy if there s any kind of smoke around. Many teenagers take less than half of their prescribed medication for fear of looking the odd one out of their friends and indeed deliberately leave their medication at home. If left to his or her own devices the asthma can get worse and in turn lead to permanent lung damage or even worse a life threatening attack. Knowing the warning signs you can avoid an attack and you can carry on with every day life. Going to work, school etc. Hereditary If you have a parent that suffers with asthma you are three-six times more likely to develop asthma yourself, more than a person who has no parent with asthma. What is an asthma attack It is caused by the tubes letting air down to your lungs, getting smaller, muscles get tighter and make it difficult to get air down, causing breathlessness, coughing, chest tightness, panic, a blue tinge to the lips. Asthma sufferers should do what they can to avoid smoky situations at work, as well, and always step outside for fresh air if trapped in an enclosed space with a cigarette smoker. New laws banning cigarettes in public locations are being passed all the time, and this makes living with asthma a lot easier. Cigarettes and other tobacco products should absolutely not be smoked, but taken outside so as not to aggravate asthma symptoms. Asthma sufferers absolutely should not smoke themselves, nor should they be exposed to smoke whenever it s possible. By taking a few extra steps, you can make living with asthma much more manageable. A common misconception is that only fur or feathers is what cause a reaction in those susceptible to asthma. In fact, pet hair is sometimes tolerable for people with asthma. Triggers in your pet may include: -Dander (skin) -Saliva -Urine/Feces -Other secretions And it s not just cats or dogs that are prime candidates for the asthmatic.