![[logo] US EPA](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090511015942im_/http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Top Stories
May is Asthma Awareness Month
The 20 million Americans with asthma probably realize that the symptoms of this respiratory disease have a lot to do with certain environmental factors. With asthma rates rising sharply in the last few decades, especially among children, EPA and its partner organizations hope to educate others about how the air around us can affect people’s health during Asthma Awareness Month.
It’s especially important to raise awareness of possible triggers asthma sufferers may encounter while indoors, where most Americans spend 90 percent of their time. Common triggers include smoke, whether from cigarettes, candles, or a fireplace; dust and dust mites; pets; mold; and cockroaches and other household pests. Nitrogen dioxide, a reddish-brown gas with an irritating odor, can also be a problem in homes that use fuel burning appliances such as gas or wood stoves and gas or oil furnaces.
Avoiding these triggers is the best way to avoid many indoor asthma attacks, but individuals should also talk to their doctor to determine what factors are more likely to lead to attacks for them. On EPA’s asthma Web site, you can find a guide for you and your doctor to help you plan for avoiding attacks. By being careful about what’s in your home, you could help your child avoid the pain of another asthma attack.
