Your guide to a healthier home for better asthma control

(HealthDay)—If you or a family member has asthma, your doctor has most likely mapped out the steps you need to take to treat an asthma flare.

Creating a healthier home by minimizing your triggers can be as effective as medication for reducing symptoms and flares, according to a study from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Triggers include indoor pollutants like cigarette smoke and gas stoves, as well as allergens such as mold, pets and pests—from dust mites that hide in bedding to cockroaches.

One approach is to talk to your doctor about allergen-specific immunoglobulin E antibody tests or skin testing to identify the allergens that affect you most. Then you can map out a strategy to rid your home of the worst offenders.

HEPA or “high-efficiency particulate air purifiers” do a great job of removing airborne allergens. True HEPA devices can trap particles in the air that are as small as 0.3 microns—that’s less than 1/25,000 of an inch. HEPA filters are available for your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, and for specially equipped vacuum cleaners.

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