Your doctor make get you to do a peak flow reading for a while to try and determine what causes the attacks and when attacks are likely. The peak flow meter is like a plastic tube that you blow into and they give a reading of breath output so that the doctor can see from the chart at what points the breathing becomes more laboured and therefore try to work out what the child was doing and where he or she was. And with asthma, it's important to remember that symptoms vary based on the individual who's gotten them. Even the season may make one person seem as two, the first thing it's important to do? Talk with your doctor about you. Ask him the questions you need to know for your particular case, and keep the channels of communication open. So if you were in any doubt that your elderly relative has had a cold for too long, or they appear extra breathless or wheezy then it would probably be best to get them checked out by their G.P even though they may tell you they are fine. Taking care of the young with asthma will eventually change the trends of the elderly with asthma. For someone who has asthma, being around a smoker is the worst. It's very important to know that living with asthma means living smoke-free - completely. No one who has asthma should be exposed to smoke, at least not on a regular basis. Smoking should not be done within the home, for example, but taken outside where it will not irritate any asthma-related symptoms. Smog and atmospheric viruses are produced inside the body and is something you should verify and monitor with your doctor depending on where you live. Other things, less often associated maybe in your own sphere with being inflammatory include dust mites, cockroaches, and animals such as dogs or cats with shedding fur. Your best bet is to reduce the exposure to pet allergens to aid your asthma: -For cats or dogs: have another household member wash it twice a week. -Remove carpet in the home; dander is more likely to be trapped, even from regular vacuuming within carpet fibers. Of particular interest for the allergy sufferer is no carpet in the bedroom.