The symptoms of asthma, including wheezing, coughing, a choking feeling, and the inability to breathe, can be managed and treated with the proper asthma medication. Under a doctor s care, many asthma sufferers find that they can manage their asthma without a lot of trouble or complications. The first step to living with asthma is in finding the appropriate asthma medication, and following the doctor s orders in regard to taking that medication. Even reading the stories and thoughts of others can make asthma seem much easier. There are many, many people with asthma out there it s a very large club. Just knowing you are not alone makes living with asthma seem a whole lot easier, so seek out information and read up on asthma. Understanding asthma is an important step to living with asthma. To learn specific information about the medication you ve been prescribed, look to the Internet for information and tips on how to store, use, and take your medication properly. Living with asthma means learning how to breathe in an environment that may not always be asthma-friendly. You ll have to do what you can to avoid smoke, even eliminating smoke in the home so that asthma isn t aggravated or breathing troubles made worse. But there are things that you can do, along with taking your regular medication, to lessen even these lingering symptoms. If you re living with asthma, then you should be living smoke-free. Asthma symptoms are often irritated, and sometimes even made much worse, by even second-hand cigarette smoke. Anyone who has been diagnosed with asthma absolutely should not smoke, as any kind of smoking will only make any breathing problem worse. You don t have to get rid of your pets, even if pet dander posing some breathing problems. Regularly washing fabrics in the home (like bed linens) can help reduce both dust mites and pet dander. Keep your pets clean and well-groomed, and keep the home free of dust and other airborne particles by maintaining a regular cleaning schedule. Asthma can also appear as various other illnesses, namely pneumonia, bronchitis, allergies, and of course the common cold. Any of these can bring on an attack and if your teen is still coughing a lot after the illness has gone then it will probably be asthma. Sports Many professional athletes have asthma, for an excellent sport for people suffering with asthma try swimming the moist warm air makes it easier to for your teenager to breath.