The best way to avoid asthma and allergy attack is to use prevention rather than always resorting to medication as many sufferers do. Often an asthma sufferer will often suffer from allergies which actually trigger an attack. Allergies are often caused by environmental factors and not just food. The use of inhalers or anti-histamines can be minimized by using the simple methods outlined below.

How to minimize allergens and irritants

• Keeping a diary of attacks will allow you to identify the most common causes of the attacks. By making a note of what was eaten, where you were, the time of day it occurred etc. will help you find a pattern of when, where and how the attacks happen. When you know what triggers them, you know what to avoid.

• Strong smells such as smoke, perfume, car fumes are just some of the culprits that can cause asthma attacks. The only way to prevent this happening is to ask those who come to your house not to smoke and by avoiding smoky environments like bars or restaurants where smoking is permitted. If you live next to a congested road you might also want to consider moving to a different area.

• High levels of pollens can be a nightmare for sufferers but there is unfortunately little you can do to avoid them other than stay inside as much as possible until the season is over. If you can identify which pollens in particular affect you it will make you better prepared by knowing which times of the year will be worse for you.

• Asthma and allergy sufferers need to be more conscientious when cleaning their house to eliminate as much dust as possible which is a well-known irritant. Carpets hide a huge amount of dirt and dust and using a hoover to clean them is likely to irritate you more as most of them let some of the dust escape back into the air. If you have to have carpets try and use a steam cleaner. Ideally get wooden flooring or tiled floors instead and clean with a mop which will trap more of the dust. An air purifier will also help trap the dust in the air.

• Never allow food and water to be left out as this could attract cockroaches - another cause of asthma and allergy attacks. Also clean dishes immediately after use and wipe down all surfaces to ensure there are no crumbs left.

• Pets should be kept out of the house as their fur, feathers and dander get embedded into furniture and can be difficult to see yet cause misery to those who are sensitive to those particular allergens.

• A damp house should be avoided by using a dehumidifier which can be used as a preventative measure even if you do not have visible mold problems. The fungus may be behind painted walls or in places you can not see, yet will still release spores that may trigger an attack. It is also important to ventilate your house on a regular basis.

By using these simple methods asthma and allergy sufferers can significantly reduce their attacks using preventative measures and taking medication only as a last resort.