Asthma in children can not only be an extremely stress-inducing process for parents but can also be put an unnecessary amount of pressure on the children suffering from it. It hinders some of their most basic activities, like playing on the field or trying to get sound sleep. Always having to carry an inhaler is too tedious a task for kids, forgetting to carry it can sometimes prove to be fatal. All of these difficulties make the lives of children suffering from asthma very turbulent. As such, management of this illness can be very time and energy-consuming. However, there are some ways to make this process slightly doable. This article contains some recommendations on managing asthma among children so that you can make your lives slightly easier.
What Are The Effects Of Asthma On Children
In order to understand this better, let us first acquaint ourselves with some of the common symptoms that are associated with asthma among kids. They include a recurring cough that does not seem to fade, bouts of cough that are usually triggered by any strenuous activity, under the influence of cold air or while laughing and crying, low levels of energy, which require them to stop in between activities to catch their breath, frequent chest pains, trouble consuming food and even wheezing, among others. If your child suffers from any such symptoms, then consider applying the following suggestions in order to alleviate some of the effects of asthma in children.
- Always take the prescribed medicines:
Almost all children who suffer from asthma need to take some medicines. This varies depending on the extent of the condition. Usually, there is a combination of both long-term medicines and quick-relief medicines to medicate any sudden flare-ups. Always remember to give your children a timely dose of these medicines, as not taking them could lead to negative consequences. Your child’s doctor will give you a clear schedule for these medicines, so ensure to adhere to them.
- Develop a plan that you can stick to:
It is very prudent to have a definite and concise action plan to manage your child’s asthma. These should contain written advice from your doctor that deals with the triggers, flare-ups, what to do, and what not to do. Once you start to stick to this effect, it will streamline the process and even reduce the burden on your children. This way you will get accustomed to the whole endeavor and will also know when to seek help from your doctor.
- Identify the triggers and try to control them:
One of the best things you can do is get an allergy test for your child so that you can find out the primary trigger right from the start. Some of the common triggers could include cold weather and pollen. While figuring out all the triggers can be a very hectic task, it actually has many benefits. Once you have found them all out, do your best to make sure that your child is not exposed to any of these risks.
- Train yourself to deal with extreme flare-ups:
Panicking in case of severe flare-ups is one of the important things to avoid. Always have a game plan when confronting a severe flare-up, as this would lead to swift action and can reduce the effect of the asthma attack. Keep emergency medication with you all the time, and also ensure that important adults such as coaches, teaches, and relatives are also fully acquainted with the process.
- Ensure that your child receives their annual dose of the flu vaccine:
If the flu strikes kids suffering from asthma, then the risk of serious flare-ups and related illnesses increases to a large extent. In order to avoid any such turbulences, keep a reminder to get their dose of the flu vaccine every year right on time.
Overall, dealing with asthma among children is a very arduous process. It leads to many sleepless nights and testing times. However, with proper medical guidance and a strong support system that plans the way they want to tackle this hurdle, the child can find their burden easing by a large margin. Stick to medical advice and do not hesitate to reach out for medical assistance. Allow your child to engage in normal physical activity, try your best to make them feel at ease while dealing with this and you should be well on your way to tackling asthma.
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