But not everyone experiences the severe wheezing that's considered the hallmark of the disease. In fact, one of the most common symptoms is persistent coughing at night.Despite the misconceptions, folks seem to recognize the seriousness of asthma. And that's important, because more and more Americans are being diagnosed with the condition. In 1982, 3.5 percent of the population had asthma. Today, the figure stands at 5.6 percent. For years, doctors attributed asthma to the sudden narrowing of the bronchial tubes, the airways that lead into the lungs. This phenomenon, called bronchoconstriction, hampers your ability to move air into and out of your lungs.Why the bronchial tubes narrow remained something of a mystery until the mid-1980s. That's when scientists realized that the airways of people with asthma become inflamed. The inflammation leads to bronchoconstriction, which in turn triggers asthma symptoms.Based on this new information, scientists turned their attention to figuring out what causes the airways to become inflamed.They have already identified a number of factors-and the list may get longer. Among the most common culprits are inhalant allergies-caused by airborne substances such as pollens, molds, and pet dander-and occupational exposures to certain chemicals. Other potential irritants are cigarette smoke, air pollution, cold weather, strenuous exercise, and sensitivities to chemicals such as food preservatives and aspirin and medications. Colds, flu, and sinus infections can aggravate asthma-and some women are more prone to asthma during their menstrual cycles.Because menstruation is a fact of life for women, little can be done to prevent menstruation-related asthma attacks. But many other triggers can be avoided. That's what doctors recommend to reduce the frequency of asthma flare-ups.Mainstream M.D.'s also prescribe anti-inflammatories and bronchodilators-drugs that open narrowed bronchial tubes-to help control asthma symptoms. "In my experience, these medications help, but they're not the answer," says Richard Firshein, D.O., assistant professor of family medicine at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. "In managing my own asthma, I've had tremendous success with a comprehensive program that includes drugs as well as alternative approaches. The same goes for my patients. Within 6 weeks of beginning treatment, 95 percent of them are able to cut back on their medications. About 60 percent reduce their dosages by half."Of course, you should never stop taking any asthma medication or change your dosage without your doctor's okay. That said, the following remedies may help reduce the frequency and severity of your asthma attacks.Best ChoicesSupplementsBreathe easier with C. When Leonard Bielory, M.D., an immunologist at the UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School in Newark, reviewed dozens of studies of asthma and vitamin C, he confirmed what advocates of nutritional medicine have said for years. His conclusion: The lower your vitamin C level, the more likely you are to experience asthma and other respiratory problems. But as your vitamin C intake increases, asthma subsides.In testing the vitamin and mineral status of his asthma patients, Dr. Firshein has found that quite a few are deficient in vitamin C as well as the other antioxidant nutrients. He suggests that adults with asthma take 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C every day, along with 400 international units (IU) of vitamin E and 10,000 IU of beta-carotene.Add magnesium to the mix. At Nottingham City Hospital in England, John Britton, M.D., performed lung function tests on 2,633 adults. The participants also completed a questionnaire about their eating habits, which Dr. Britton used to evaluate their magnesium intakes. Based on the results of the lung function tests and the dietary surveys, he concluded that the people with the lowest magnesium intakes were most likely to have asthma.Taking his findings one step further, Dr. Britton instructed those volunteers with low magnesium intakes to eat more magnesium­rich foods-primarily whole grains, nuts, seafood, soy products, and low-fat dairy products. Over time, the group showed improvement in their lung function.Dr. Firshein has also found that many of his asthma patients run low on magnesium. He suggests taking 500 milligrams of the mineral a day, in addition to eating more magnesium-rich foods.