Childhood Asthma News 2016: 5 Effective Ways to Manage Asthma During the New School Year
Asthma Shouldn't Be a Hindrance to Learning
It's the start of another school year and parents of kids with childhood asthma are rightfully concerned for their little ones.
Childhood asthma or simply asthma is a condition where the lungs and the airways become inflamed by certain triggers. It is not clear what causes the condition, but asthma can range from mild to life-threatening. In any case, an asthma attack can be worrying, but there are ways to manage it at school especially during the busy new school year.
1. Teachers, School Health Staff Should be Informed of Your Child's Asthma
Now that children are mostly at school, their most constant companion are their teachers so it is important to inform them ahead of time of your kid's childhood asthma. Telegraph recommends providing written instructions or text about the child's specific asthma condition, the medication they are using and how to use it. Extra steps such as informing the school's nurse or health staff can also be done to better manage the condition in case of asthma attack.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
2. Know the Triggers to Prevent Asthma Attack
Asthma is a condition that can be triggered by various events or substances. It is important to know what triggers your child's asthma so they can be trained to avoid them. According to NHS, specific lung irritants that can trigger your child's asthma include animal dander, feathers, pollen, weather conditions, colds, flu, food allergies and more.
3. Vaccinate Child Against Colds, Flu
Since common colds and the flu are some of the most common triggers for childhood asthma, it may be wise to vaccinate children against them. This way, these potential triggers may be eliminated and lessen the chances of a preventable asthma attack.
4. Have Your Child Religiously Take Maintenance Medicine for Asthma
According to Kid's Health, there are primarily two kinds of asthma medicine - one for "quick-relief" and the other for long-term maintenance. The latter medicine is aimed to help prevent the likelihood of asthma symptoms going into a full blown attack.
5. Have Your Child Get Regular Check-ups
Asthma is a mysterious disease whose origin is not yet known so it makes sense to have your child get regular check-ups. The regular visits will also allow their healthcare providers to know the status of your child's childhood asthma or if the medicine they are taking and preventive asthma strategies are working or not.
