Asthma is a chronic condition which causes your airways to become sore and swollen. This is due to the airways becoming inflamed by everything from allergens (such as mold, pollen, and animal dander), to air pollution or even exercise. In the United States, it is estimated that approximately 20 million people suffer from asthma. Unfortunately, close to 9 million of asthma patients are children. Due to their size, children have smaller airways leading to their lungs, making symptoms such as tightness in the chest and difficulty breathing much more dangerous.
If your child struggles with asthma, consider these tips and tricks to help manage asthma symptoms in your child’s daily life.
Keep Medications on Hand
The highest priority is to prevent your child from having an asthma attack at all costs. An asthma attack occurs when the symptoms of asthma are intensified, which may cause your child to choke or experience shortness of breath. This is why it’s important to have immediate relief medications on hand to stop asthma symptoms when they occur, as well as long-term medications such as an inhaler ready to prevent symptoms from starting. Make sure that your child is educated on the use of both types of medications so that he or she is prepared to control symptoms when they occur.
Identify The Source of Your Child’s Asthma
In order to treat your child’s allergies beyond medication, you need to determine exactly what is causing the allergies in the first place. This can sometimes prove difficult, as your child may have two or more triggers that are causing the asthma attacks. Your doctor will be able to use their specialized training and experience to determine the source of the asthma episodes, and therefore develop a treatment plan to prevent them. This may include assessing your family history and living environment for possible factors.
Keep in mind that the two most common triggers of asthma in children are allergens and colds. This often affects your child’s overall health and wellness, and chest X-rays or related exams may be necessary to diagnose and manage your child’s asthma. Fortunately, established asthma management methods have proven effective, and the use of medications in conjunction with monitoring your child’s environment will work wonders to dissipate asthma symptoms.
Schedule an Examination With Dr. Shukla
If your child is struggling with his or her asthma symptoms, schedule an examination with Dr. Mayank Shukla today.
