7 Steps To Control Childhood Asthma

Asthma is the most common chronic (long-term) childhood disease. In America about nine million children are diagnosed with asthma. Up to ten per cent of children in Europe are also suffering from asthma symptoms. Unfortunately parents of these children are often uninformed about the various ways to control childhood asthma.

If you suspect your child has asthma the first priority is correct diagnosis. However, be aware that symptoms can vary from episode to episode and not all wheezing and coughing is caused by asthma. Asthma-like symptoms in children younger than five are usually due to a virus or bacterial infection of the airways. However if your child is experiencing breathing difficulties it is best to get them to a doctor whatever the cause.

About eighty per cent of children who develop asthma do so before the age of five. Studies show that children living in rural areas have lower rates of asthma than those who live in cities, particularly if they spent their first five years in a rural area. For children living in inner cities the cockroach allergen seems to worsen asthma symptoms more than dust mite or pet allergens. Therefore another important step in the control of your child's asthma is to ensure that general cleaning and maintenance routines are followed to ensure cockroaches are not encouraged into the home. Levels of cockroach allergens have been found to be highest in high-rise apartments.

Another factor that has been linked to the development of asthma in children is exposure to smoke. A study in Norway showed that almost ten per cent of adult asthma patients had experienced passive smoking during early childhood. Therefore another step to take at home is to ensure that your child is not exposed to tobacco smoke.

If your doctor recommends the use of medication the next step is to encourage your child to take the medicine. Asthma is one of the main causes for emergency room visits by children. Yet studies have shown that up to half of these hospitalizations may be preventable if children, particularly teenagers, followed their medication schedule correctly, avoided their asthma triggers and made regular visits to the doctor.

Perhaps fear of side effects or dependency, or an impression that it is uncool to be seen taking medicines is preventing children taking their medication as regularly as they should. Perhaps intermittent asthma symptoms persuade children and their parents that it is not important to take medication if there are no symptoms. This is a mistake. Even when there are no obvious symptoms an asthmatic’s lungs will be inflamed to some degree.

The fact that the condition seems to run in families with a history of asthma or allergies suggests that certain people are born with a predisposition to asthma. Some may believe you are born with the condition and there is nothing you can do. However a child’s environment can also play an important role. Studies have found that exposure to potential allergens like pets and pollen in the first six months of life may reduce the chance of developing asthma later. However exposure beyond six months of age has the opposite effect. Being born into a family that already has siblings also seems to reduce the chance of developing asthma.

It is known that children are more susceptible to viral and allergic triggers than adults. An important step in controlling your child's asthma is identifying the triggers and teaching your child how to recognize their asthma triggers and avoid them. One possible trigger is ibuprofen, with over 100,000 children susceptible to asthma symptoms brought on by the drug.

Children tend to spend more time outside during the summer vacation. If pollen or high levels of ozone trigger your child’s asthma you need to monitor these. Physical exercise is a common trigger of childhood asthma. Teach your child to take medication if necessary, and do warm up exercises before strenuous activity and wind down exercises after.

If your child is going away to camp during the vacation make sure those in charge are aware of your child’s asthma management and action plans. There are camps designed specifically for asthma sufferers in the U.S. and Canada.

It is essential to have a written action plan that clearly states what medication to take and when, as well as how to respond to an asthma attack. You or your child may not remember what to do at a time when it may be difficult for them to breathe, so it is essential to have the important details in writing.

It is important you and your child remain calm during an attack as panic can produce more breathing difficulties. A parent’s instinct may be to cuddle their child, but that would constrict the chest further.

If asthma is diagnosed your next step is to inform your child’s school. Every school should allow access to asthma medication and some allow children to carry and self-administer their asthma medication if certain requirements are met.

Whilst we’re talking about schools here’s one often overlooked childhood asthma trigger. School buses are major sources of pollution, and studies show children who ride them are exposed to five to fifteen times as much asthma triggering particulates inside the buses compared to outside. New Jersey recently passed a law requiring retrofitting of school buses and municipal vehicles to clean up tailpipe emissions. Is your state doing the same?

Remember, if asthma is confirmed you need to educate yourself. According to the experts knowledge is the best prescription. To stop the disease affecting your child’s life you need to know how to monitor and manage asthma. This will mean knowing how to use medications correctly, whether your child’s attacks are triggered by allergens and if so how to reduce exposure to them, and the lifestyle changes that will help your child prevent attacks.

Despite being a widespread disease there are still plenty of myths about asthma. One of the most damaging of these for children is the belief that the condition will improve every seven years or can even disappear completely. Unfortunately, any apparent improvement is probably due to hormonal changes as the child’s immune system matures. The underlying condition does not go away and not managing it can lead to long-term lung damage.

5 Warning Signs That Could Keep You Out of ER

Many people knowingly experience asthma for the first time when they are rushed to the emergency room with acute breathing problems. Many of them did not realize that asthma could develop in adults. Consequently they did not seek medical help when symptoms first appeared. This neglect can be fatal.

If you suspect you have adult or late-onset asthma a final diagnosis should be left to a qualified practitioner, but there are some signs that suggest asthma may be a problem.

Many adults who develop asthma will have experienced chest problems as a child. They may have suffered a higher than average number of coughs or episodes of bronchitis. This may have been undiagnosed asthma.

Although asthma does seem to run in families because there is a genetic component to the condition it is not unusual for a single family member to develop asthma while their siblings do not.

If you have more than two of the following symptoms it is probable that you are suffering some form of lung disease and you should consult a doctor.

1. Do you correctly use your diaphragm to breathe, or do you lift your shoulders and chest as you breathe?

2. Can you complete long sentences without becoming short of breath?

3. Do you wheeze? This could be a sign that mucus has built up in your airways.

4. Do you have a rapid pulse? This could be due to lack of oxygen in your bloodstream.

5. Are your chest, back or stomach muscles painful? This could be a sign of the strain breathing is putting on these muscles.

If you do have asthma it is likely that it is triggered by something. The most common asthma triggers include pollution from traffic or industry, cold or dry air, and airborne irritants.

There are many other triggers. In women, hormones can trigger a susceptibility to asthma. Some women find asthma becomes a problem just before a period, some experience symptoms during pregnancy, and some around the menopause.

Many cases of adult asthma are triggered by viral infections that affect the respiratory system. Others find that symptoms become noticeable as they put on weight. There seems to be a link between obesity and asthma.

So what is the next step if you suspect you have asthma? You need to visit your doctor, and you will make the most of the consultation if you go prepared.

Think about your home and your place of work. Do these have any triggers that may be starting your asthma? Are there any other environments, activities or substances that seem to provoke a worsening of your condition?

Give some thought to your medical history and whether any relatives have suffered from asthma, eczema or any allergies. If you are not sure there is any connection between how you feel and where you are or what you do keep a daily journal of your condition, preferably for about two weeks.

With this information and some simple breathing tests your doctor should be able to tell you whether you have asthma. If you find you do have asthma, take comfort from the fact that we know more about this disease and how to manage it than ever before.