Asthma effects the airways and is a disease of the lungs. Asthma sufferers are highly sensitive to pollen and other irritants. When a person is exposed to allergens, the lungs become inflamed making breathing more difficult. The inflammation causes the airways to produce more mucus. When the mucus becomes thick enough to block the airways, then the patient is having an asthma attack. Cough variant asthma symptoms include coughing and the inability to take a deep breath. The patient can also have difficulty sleeping and experience wheezing and difficulty breathing. Patients can purchase a peak flow meter that measures the amount of air flow coming from the lungs. A flow meter help patients monitor their air flow for early detection and prevention of an asthma attack. Doctors can control asthma with medications and rescue inhalers. Patients should avoid irritants such as smoke, pollutants and any other irritant that has been the cause of a previous asthma attack. Patients should understand and follow doctors directions precisely. A patient should monitor their breathing closely with a peak flow meter. Learning how to use a peak flow meter will help a patient monitor their breathing. The patient should record their air flow when they are breathing normally. The flow meter will be a clear indicator if the peak flow level drops. Patients need to assess their indoor air quality. Irritants can be found in carpets, air vents and many other places in the home. Irritants can enter a home in a variety of ways. The shoes a person wears coming inside from the outdoors is one way that pollen enters the home. Establishing the habit of family members removing their shoes at the door can prevent some allergens from entering the home. There is not a cure for asthma, but doctors can manage it with several treatment methods. These treatments combined with improving the indoor air quality of the home will help the asthma sufferer. There are asthma support groups found online where people can support each other. Asthma sufferers have unique challenges and joining a support group is a way to connect with others who are suffering from asthma.