(NC) -- Blue skies and sunny days are upon us and Canadians will undoubtedly be spending more time in the great outdoors. Whether you plan on heading to a cottage, a weekend of camping or hiking for the afternoon, there are important things to keep in mind, especially if you are one of the three million Canadians that have asthma.

Pollution, summer heat, and environmental elements like mold in a cottage or allergens in the air can all put additional stress on your respiratory system. For those with asthma, allergens can cause symptoms to flare up as lung airways become inflamed, filling with mucus and causing difficulty breathing. Reactions can be severe enough to cause an asthma attack that sends you to the emergency room. To help ensure your breathing troubles don't interrupt your vacation time, it's important to take the proper precautions.

The following simple steps can help you take control of your condition and breathe more easily during the summer:

Before any travel, including summer vacations, make sure that you have a written action plan developed with your doctor.

Ensure that your asthma plan is updated with a description of medication changes and other actions to take if your asthma worsens unexpectedly.

Pack your asthma medication and always take it as prescribed by your doctor. This means taking your maintenance medication everyday or as prescribed, even when you are symptom-free.