Pets can be a real problem. Animal hair and dander, ticks, plant pollen, dust are all brought to bear when a pet causes a breathing crisis. Some say daily bathing of the pet can markedly reduce the danger beloved pets can cause. Others recommend outside pets only, or no pets. I strongly favor no pets if there is any evidence of a person with asthma reacting with even mild breathing problems in the presence of a pet.
Many asthmatics smoke or are engulfed in smoke in their own household.
The exposure is catastrophic. These assaults accelerate the change from nice soft bronchial tubes to thick, stiff bronchial tubes. The tiny hairs that have the job of whuffing out the bad things that get into the lungs become brittle and unable to work. The bronchial tubes get inflamed, swollen and hurt. Spasm and irritability set in.