Did you know that May was Allergy and Asthma Awareness Month? You can have asthma and allergy symptoms at any time of the year, but the month of May appears to signify a "peak" season. It is helpful to know your triggers to decrease or prevent asthma episodes.

Here is a list of some common triggers of allergic asthma:

• Dust/dust mites
• Cockroaches
• Pollens
• Molds
• Pet Dander
• Rodents

There are several other factors that can provoke your asthma symptoms, including, but not limited to: weather, irritants in the air, tobacco smoke, exercise, acid reflux, certain foods or drinks (i.e. sulfite-containing products), and changes in hormones during menstrual cycle.

It may take some time to identify what provokes your asthma episodes, but try jotting down changes or patterns that you notice around the time of your flares. The triggers mentioned previously are a good list to start with when identifying what may be causing your symptoms. You may not be able to avoid them all, but hopefully it will assist you in better...