According to the data collected by the World Health Organization, 300 million people suffer from asthma worldwide. In the United States, more than 25 million adults and children have asthma.
Asthma is a lung condition that can be triggered by any number of elements. The triggers affect the airways causing inflammation and therefore interfering with regular and relaxed breathing. Childhood asthma is scary for both parents and the child themselves. It can interfere with daily life, deterring participation in sports, physical activities, play and even sleep.
Despite the popular belief that childhood asthma is curable and just regresses once children reach adolescence, the condition has no cure yet. This is why parents need to pay special attention to the management of asthma attacks in children even during treatment. Children with asthma face many unique challenges and one of them is having a quick action plan for an anticipated asthma attack.
This is how parents can better equip their children to deal with asthma when they’re away.
Educate them about the triggers
Triggers—in both adults and children—can vary from person to person and what’s more triggering for one asthma patient may not be a problem for the other. Some of the common triggers include dust, dust mites, exercising, physical activity, tobacco smoke, strong smells, perfumes, mold, pets, changing weather and even food items.
Talk to your child about these and why they should stay away from them.
Help them understand symptoms
Children often don’t understand why they’re having trouble breathing or feeling pain in their chest. An effective action plan means your child is aware of the symptoms and can therefore manage the attack as soon as the symptoms start showing up.
Teach them the use of an inhaler
Show them videos on YouTube and make the use of an inhaler a fun activity. Apart from regular asthma medicine, inhaler (prescribed by the pediatrician) can regulate the intensity of the attack. Make sure that your child knows the right use of an inhaler.
Always pack a mask in their bag
You have to teach your child about the triggers, such as pollen and dust. Educate them about why a mask is necessary when they’re near flowers or on the road around car smoke and dust. Prevention can help your child limit the number of attacks per day and improve their quality of life, overall.
Pro-tip: Follow the prescribed treatment
Living with asthma can be taxing but treatment and medication can help both adults and children control it effectively. There’s no reason why people with asthma can’t lead normal, in fact, exceptional lives and if you need proof, here’s some.
The trick is to learn preventive measures, avoid triggers and treat the symptoms as they happen rather than letting them convert into a full-blown asthma attack.
If you feel like your child’s asthma isn’t getting better and the attacks have become more frequent, book an appointment with our pediatrician in San Antonio TX. At A thru Z Pediatrics, we offer an excellent environment for the effective treatment of your child’s medical and health conditions.
We’re based in San Antonio and parents can reach us at 210-490-8888 for an appointment in Stone Oak or at 210-614-7500 for an appointment at our medical center.