Dust, pet dander, and smoke can all irritate any breathing condition, including asthma. Cleaning your home of these irritants can make living with asthma a whole lot easier. Asthma sufferers should not smoke, nor should they be exposed to smoking. If someone with asthma lives within the home, do not smoke inside of it. Any of these can bring on an attack and if your teen is still coughing a lot after the illness has gone then it will probably be asthma. Sports Many professional athletes have asthma, for an excellent sport for people suffering with asthma try swimming the moist warm air makes it easier to for your teenager to breath. People with asthma have trouble breathing in the presence of 'triggers.' Symptoms of asthma mean the flow is obstructed as air passes out of the lungs. This happens either because airways become irritated, swollen, or reddened producing mucous. The greater the inflammation, the more sensitive the air passages, the worse and more intense the symptoms. If, ordinarily, your asthma is in under control, yet symptoms pop up after five or ten minutes from beginning your program, you re experiencing what is known as Exercise-induced asthma. Exercise-induced asthma is a result of the airways reacting sensitively to temperature or humidity changes. This is of particular consequence while breathing in and out, cold, dry air through the mouth. Living with asthma doesn t have to be a burden. When you know how to manage and control asthma and related symptoms, living with asthma is just like living without asthma with a few extras. Controlling asthma through medication is the preferred method of living with asthma for most people, and can be a fairly hassle-free experience. While it may takes some experimentation to find the correct amount, it is better than your body rejecting too much of the medication with possibly bad side effects. Over time it is more than likely your needs will change. THE TWO MEDICINES: There are two medications for most people grappling with asthma.