Asthma is an affliction that many children are victims of. Many parents do not fully understand the disease, its symptoms, or its effects. As a result, asthma symptoms in children can cause a parent to panic and have an overwhelming feeling of vulnerability. Consequently, this often only serves to make the child panic which makes the asthma attack even more debilitating.
Part of the reason that asthma is so traumatic is because it is often not diagnosed until after the child has the first attack. Once diagnosed, however, there are many medications and treatments that can help an attack after it begins. Of course, most parents would say that they would rather the attack never happens. There are many ways that parents can help prevent asthma attacks in their children.
Once you realize that your child has asthma, start keeping a diary of what brings on the attacks. If you can find the things that trigger the breathing difficulties, you can try to avoid exposing your child to those triggers, thus keeping the asthma at bay. When you start to notice a pattern, talk to your child’s doctor about the things that you think are causing the problems.
One step that a parent can take to keep the symptoms of asthma to a minimum is to make sure the child’s environment is kept clean. Household items and materials that are known to collect large amounts of dust should be consistently kept clean if not gotten rid of completely. There are many products on the market that can be used in your home if your child suffers from asthma. Along with vacuuming and routine cleaning, these products would be a great idea to keep your child’s asthma symptoms to a minimum.
For severe asthma difficulties, you may need to eliminate the pets in your home, or consider a pet that does not have fur. Fish and other aquatic animals are another good option for asthmatic children. There are certain breeds of dogs that are less likely to trigger asthma and allergies, such as poodles, so consider these options if your children enjoy having pets around.
Mold is a major trigger for asthma. Keeping your home free from mold by keeping the humidity low will help your child’s asthma. If you have a damp basement, try to keep your child out of the basement as much as possible. Absolutely do not allow anyone to smoke in your home.
Cleaning products can cause asthma symptoms to worsen, so consider cleaning when your child is at school or at a friend’s house. This includes vacuuming. Vacuuming your home can stir up dust and other allergens that cause asthma attacks. Avoid using cleaning products with strong odors. Consider installing allergen filters in your furnace and air conditioners to control allergens in the air.
It is important to always have your child’s asthma medication on hand, even if the symptoms seem to be under control. If an attack occurs, you need to have the medication available right at hand to allow your child to breathe. Cleaning your environment and keeping your child’s medication at hand is the best thing you can do to protect your child from a dangerous asthma attack.