Child Asthma Tips

Asthma is the leading chronic illness among children, affecting 10-12% of kids in the United State, and is steadily increasing. To combat this threat, it is important to protect your child against asthma because, although it is treatable, there is no cure. Asthma causes inflammation, spasm or tightening in the bronchial tubes, which can cause periodic episodes of difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness, and coughing.

To see if your child is at risk for asthma, answer the questions here

Next, evaluate the factors that may increase the risk of your child developing asthma.

Some Controllable risks are: Cigarette smoking during pregnancy, exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke, obesity, dust mites, cockroaches.

Uncontrollable risks include: Gender, Family history of asthma, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Then, have a physician test your child for allergies that trigger an asthma episode. Episodes are often triggered by some condition or stimulus. Common triggers of asthma are:

• Exercise
• Infections
• Allergy
• Irritants
• Weather
• Emotions (infrequent)

Once asthma is diagnosed, monitor your child’s condition and
have regular checkups to keep asthma under control, and remember to review your child’s daily treatment.

Also, have your child use a peak flow meter every day to measure how much air flows out of your child’s lungs. Peak flow scores are put in “zones” like the colors in traffic lights.

With understanding and vigilance with the steps mentioned above, asthma can be managed, if not cured, and not interfere with a healthy
life.

http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/indicators/43Asthma.cfm http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/tables/43_Table_1.htm http://my.webmd.com/hw/asthma/uf4638.asp?pagenumber=2 http://my.webmd.com/hw/asthma/uf4638.asp
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