Plan for Proper Care this Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month Published May 4, 2016 By TRICARE.mil Staff Communications Division, Defense Health Agency Falls Church, Va. -- May is peak season for asthma and allergy sufferers. This month, educate yourself and your loved ones about proper care and treatment for these diseases. More than 50 million Americans suffer from different kinds of allergies – pollen, skin, latex and more. And unfortunately, the rate of allergies is climbing. The most common allergy symptoms can simply make you uncomfortable, like a runny nose, sneezing or an itchy rash. However, more serious reactions, like swelling in your mouth or throat, can be life-threatening. The same substances that trigger your allergy symptoms, such as pollen, dust mites and pet dander, may also trigger or worsen asthma signs and symptoms. In some people, skin or food allergies can cause asthma symptoms. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reports that asthma affects 24 million Americans and 6.3 million of those are children under the age of 18. Asthma is a chronic disease that causes your airways to become inflamed, making it hard to breathe. The best way to manage asthma is to avoid triggers, take medications to prevent symptoms and prepare to treat asthma episodes if they occur. You should also create an Asthma Action Plan. This plan gives information and instructions on how you manage your asthma and what to do if you have an asthma episode. This is especially important for school-aged children. Both asthma and allergies are manageable conditions, so it is very important that we all learn about how to best manage and treat it. TRICARE covers services and supplies required to diagnose and treat asthma as well as proven services and supplies needed to diagnose and treat allergies. For more information, visit the Covered Services page on the TRICARE website.