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Here are some medically proven tips to help you identify and overcome travel situations likely to aggravate asthma or allergies, and cause problems that can ruin a vacation.

Did you know that more than 50 million Americans -- more than 20% of the population -- suffer from some type of allergic disease? In fact, researchers have found that 70% of people with asthma also suffer from allergies, and that allergic rhinitis, an allergy that gives victims an annoying runny nose, accounts for 17 million doctor visits annually in the US.

Did you know that dust mites can't survive above 2,500 feet? Or that the beach is generally allergen free? These odd facts should be of interest to parents, who may be surprised to learn that 4.8 million asthma sufferers are children under 18, (a number that accounts for 11% of school aged children). 

According to John Costa, M.D., editor of the "Harvard Medical School What To Do About Allergies" report, "An allergic response occurs when the immune system tries to defend the body against something that isn't ordinarily dangerous, such as pollen. In that sense, the immune system's response is abnormal," he adds, and of course, travel to different regions has the potential to expose sufferers to new allergy triggers. 

Here are some tips to help you reduce conditions and situations likely to aggravate the discomfort of asthma and allergy sufferers in your family.

Lodging: What to Watch Out For

Surveys show that 45% of U.S. residents stay at a hotel/motel when traveling (statistics provided by Travel Industry Association of America "TIA"). Here are some things you can do to avoid aggravating conditions.

Book reservations at hotels that offer guests clean, smoke free, air and water filtration systems. (For example, Best Inns and Suites was the first national chain to offer these amenities.) Also look for the PURE room system, which turns hotel rooms into 99% germ and particle free safe havens for allergy and asthma sufferers. For an extra $15 to $20 per night you can book a PURE room and bring uncomfortable symptoms to a halt. By 2009, all Wyndham Hotels and Resorts will offer PURE rooms, as well as many other national hotels. Visit PURE Rooms for more information on the seven-step sanitizing process and how to book a room.

♦  Request fiberfill pillows or bring a dust mite-proof encased pillow from home.

♦  Prearrange maid services to occur when leaving your room each day or no less than 20 minutes before you expect to return. This lets the dust settle after vacuuming and changing sheets.

Automobiles: What to Watch Out For

Nationwide, 80% of U.S. residents use an automobile, truck or RV when traveling (TIA).

♦  Before leaving home, have the air conditioning tested and the air-filters replaced to improve efficiency and keep indoor air as clean as possible.

♦  Keep windows tightly shut and the air-conditioning set to "re-circulate" when traveling in slow traffic, dusty areas, or when behind a truck or bus with heavy exhaust emissions.