This condition can last for a year or two and then gradually go away completely. Asthma is not contagious and poses no risk to others. Avoiding known irritants is key to controlling asthma. Avoid anything that one can see or smell in the air, especially cigarette smoke, dust, and strong chemical odors. Many people with asthma also have allergies .
Allergic reactions can trigger an asthma flare-up.
Avoiding things that cause the allergies, called allergens, is important. Controlling allergies with appropriate medicine or allergy shots can often improve asthma symptoms. Quick-relief medicines, or bronchodilators, work within minutes. They prevent or help reduce the tightening of the muscles around the bronchial tubes. They are used when a person experiences an asthma attack or sudden shortness of breath.