Asthma is one of the most serious respiratory conditions you can have. Although adults can develop asthma, it’s usually diagnosed during childhood, and may even disappear in adulthood. Children with asthma usually present with ongoing respiratory infections that seem to get worse and require a trip to hospital.
Once your child’s diagnosis is confirmed, it’s your job to eliminate as many triggers as possible. And since most people with asthma usually suffer allergies too, you need to minimize the risk any way you can. Here are five things you can do to decrease your child’s chances of an asthma attack at home.
Pinpoint Asthma Triggers
Before you’re able to take any kind of preventative measures, you need to know what could potentially trigger an asthma attack. Everyone is different and will react differently to various triggers. Some children may have an asthma attack when exposed to allergens, like dust and pollen, while other children have no reaction at all. The best way to diagnose your child’s asthma triggers is seeing your doctor and having an allergy test done.
Keep Them Healthy
It’s easy to associate asthma attacks with allergies, but there are other causes as well. Asthmatic flares can happen if your child catches a cold or the flu. Any type of respiratory illness can inflame the respiratory tract, which can trigger an attack. Teach your child proper hygiene, like hand washing and not touching their face when at school or out in public.
Steer Clear of Smoke
There are many things in life you shouldn’t mix, and asthma and smoke is one of them. Smoke from cigarettes, candles, fireworks, and incense can all trigger an asthma flare. Make sure your child stays away from sources of smoke, and if they do feel an attack coming on, make sure they know how to use their rescue inhaler.
Clean Your Home
As mentioned above, asthma attacks can happen without warning. They can even occur at home, where you think your child is safe. There are a variety of potential triggers inside your home. Poor air quality, pet dander, and dust can cause or exacerbate asthma symptoms. However, there are things you can do to keep the threat to a minimum.
If you have carpet, vacuum at least twice a week, more if you have pets. You should also groom your pet outdoors to minimize dander. To improve your indoor air quality, residential air ionization can help.
An air ionizer is similar to an air purifier, except it uses ions, which is a positive or negative particle, to release into the air. A residential air ionization unit utilizes electricity to negatively charge particles, which then attack the allergens lingering in the air.
Use a Peak Flow
A peak flow is a special type of tool that is used to measure the amount of air flowing through a person’s lungs. You can have your child use this in order to know if their airways are clear and air is flowing freely. This gives you the chance to prepare in advance and prevent the attack from ever occurring.
Asthma is not something you should ever underestimate, especially when your child is involved. Use these tips to keep your child safe and healthy, and if in doubt, contact your pediatrician for further advice.
