Dear Reader,

It's true that New York City can pose problems for people with asthma. Sperling's BestPlaces ranked NYC as one of the country's "10 Most Challenging Asthma Hot Spots" because of the city's high level of ozone, an air pollutant that can trigger asthma attacks. That said, you were able spend a week breathing easy in the Big Apple during the summer, a time when ozone concentrations tend to be particularly high. This could speak highly of your chances to spend a happy, healthy college career in Gotham.

Asthma episodes are triggered by different things in different people (perhaps your asthma isn't particularly sensitive to ozone). The following are triggers that make asthma worse:

• tobacco smoke
• animal dander
• cockroach droppings and remains
• dust mites
• pollen and mold
• exercise
• sulfites in foods
• cold air

If you're unsure of exactly what triggers your asthma, a talk with your allergist or health care provider could be helpful and informative.

Speaking of cold air, you mentioned that you'd heard winter is a bad time for people with asthma. This would be true if you're studying in NYC, Siberia, or the South Pole. You can help prevent asthma by keeping your mouth and nose covered with a scarf on particularly cold or windy days. The same idea goes for other asthma triggers