Fed up with breathing troubles at home? You may have unwelcome visitors. Dust mites -- and, more specifically, their icky excretions -- can often trigger or worsen attacks in asthma sufferers, so do yourself a favour and wipe out the little guys as much as possible.

Dust mites live in soft surfaces such as pillows, carpets, mattresses and sofas, so vacuum furniture and rugs regularly, wash bed linens and mattress covers in hot water and consider replacing bedroom carpet with a washable surface, such as hardwood. The tiny mites thrive in moist air, so keep the humidity in your home set to 50 per cent or less.