How to Combat Childhood Asthma

Asthma is considered to be the most common respiratory health problem in children. Left unmanaged, it can cause affected kids to have less stamina than others their age. Some even grow up to be weak when it comes to physical activities.

What is Asthma?

Asthma is an incurable respiratory disease that inflames and narrows the airways. It causes recurring periods of shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and the feeling of chest tightness. These symptoms are usually triggered by allergens and can be fatal if left unmanaged. Asthma is commonly diagnosed in children, and as there is no cure for it, it is carried over into adulthood.

Combating Asthma in Children

While asthma is incurable, there are definitely many ways to manage its symptoms:

1. Proper knowledge on the disease and its possible triggers

Both the child and the parents should be fully aware and knowledgeable about asthma, particularly their child’s type of asthma. The child should fully understand what type of condition he has. They should know what triggers they need to steer clear and what the consequences of an untreated asthma attack can be.

2. Have emergency medications handy

A child with asthma should always carry around emergency medication, usually bronchodilators in the form of inhalers. For a school-aged child with asthma, the school should be informed of the child’s condition so that in the event of an asthma attack, the teacher or the school nurse would know how to care for the child.

3. Maintain a healthy and clean environment at home

Keeping the home clean is the first step towards caring for a child with asthma. Avoid having dust accumulate on any surfaces, and ensure that the air that you and your family breathe indoors is free from harmful allergens and bacteria. Be sure to change your air filters and choose the correct air filter sizes for your home’s HVAC system regularly to maintain good healthy air circulation in the home.

4. A child with asthma should have regular check-ups

As the child grows, so will his health needs. Having regular check-ups is vital in patients with asthma, as this disease should be carefully monitored and assessed regularly in order to ensure that a certain treatment plan is still the best treatment there is for the child. Not all treatments are the same, and what might work for one child might not work for another.

Prevention is definitely better than cure when it comes to asthma, especially in children who have tons of energy. Being fully armed with the knowledge of what could trigger an asthma attack helps in avoiding these attacks from occurring while knowing how to manage symptoms of asthma is vital in avoiding further progression of the disease, or worse, death.