Good parents are always trying to do what is best for their children. You know you need to protect their physical health, mental health, and emotional health because all three are essential to a vibrant and fulfilling life. But being aware that your choices as a parent directly impact their future doesn’t necessarily make it any easier. You’re only human, and you’re going to find yourself making compromises more often than you would like to.Let’s look at how fresh air benefits children.
When you’re busy with work, household chores, and other dependents, it’s just easier to let your kids do what they want, especially if their chosen activity is relatively harmless. Your kids may have favorite cartoons or video games that allow you a little time to yourself, and that is ok. You need that time to unwind. Many cartoons and games even have educational materials woven in, so it can feel like a win-win situation. Just don’t forget to get yourself and your kids outdoors for at least a little bit every day.
For the best pulmonologist New York has around, visit Dr. Shukla. He works closely with each patient, developing treatment plans tailored to their unique needs.
How Fresh Air Benefits Children
By taking a thirty-minute walk or shoving them into the backyard to play for 20 minutes, you’re helping build better habits for the future and improving their current physical health. Sure, you may be thinking that keeping them physically active is a good idea, but that’s actually only one aspect of why spending time outside is so important. Taking your kids outside every day is also a vital way of making sure their lungs get the fresh air they crave.
What’s the Big Deal With Fresh Air?
Our cities and our homes are filled with polluted air. Chemicals, fumes, bacteria, and mold are pervasive in these environments. With a good filtration system and continuous airflow, you can limit the effects of these pollutants, but there is still a very good chance that your children are inhaling all of these particles throughout the day. These risks are even higher in older buildings with poorer circulation and in larger cities where pollution levels are consistently higher.
Your child’s lungs need a break, and so do yours.
It can be as easy as going to any local greenspace. A community park, a college campus, and a hiking trail are all great places to go out with your family to get a little Vitamin D and revitalize those lungs. If you’re in a dense urban area without a lot of amenities, then pick any spot with trees and other plants. Plants naturally filter the air through their own respiratory process. They expel fresh oxygen for us to breathe. So even a basketball court surrounded by trees can give your kids the air they need.
The Risk of Unhealthy Air
Unfortunately, if your children are constantly exposed to polluted air, they are at higher risk for a whole host of respiratory problems. They may be more prone to colds and congestion. They are also more likely to develop asthma, which can be easy to miss in its early stages. Your child may cough more often than normal or complain about a tight-feeling in their chest. In more severe cases, you may hear them wheezing or struggling to take a deep breath.
If you suspect that your child may already have a respiratory condition, then it is vital that you make an appointment with a pediatric pulmonologist New York. Asthma and other common respiratory conditions are highly treatable in most cases, but they can also be unpredictable. By identifying the root of your child’s symptoms and putting a treatment plan in place, you can manage your child’s illness and react appropriately if their condition suddenly worsens. As the premier asthma doctor in New York, Dr. Mayank Shukla offers parents comprehensive solutions so that your children can get back out to play.
