Asthma
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a disease that affects
the way a person breathes. When your child has asthma,
his airways are inflamed. During an asthma attack,
the muscles surrounding the airways tighten. This
causes the inside of the airways to constrict and
become clogged with mucus. Both constriction and inflammation
make breathing difficult and labored.
Asthma
symptoms:
• wheezing
• chronic cough (especially at night)
• labored breathing
• difficulty breathing with exercise
• rapid breathing
• gasping or sighing
• chest tightness
• prolonged exhalation
• lingering cough and shortness of breath
after common cold
Asthma
Myths:
Myth:
Asthma isn't that
serious.
Reality:
Asthma is a serious
medical condition- especially if it isn't managed
carefully.
Myth:
Children have asthma
only when they have trouble breathing.
Reality: Not true. Asthma is always there - even when
your child is not having symptoms. The best way to
prevent attacks in your child is to take him to the
pediatrician regularly, follow an asthma treatment
plan, and be sure he takes his asthma medicines as
prescribed.
Myth: Asthma and
allergies are basically the same thing.
Reality: Not true. Allergies can trigger asthma symptoms,
but the two conditions are different. An allergy attack
can impair normal lung function, but when the immune
response calms down, the lungs may function normally
again. However, asthma is a disease that is always
present.
Remember:
• Asthma is a serious
medical condition- especially if it isn't managed
carefully.
• Most people with asthma have some degree
of inflammation all the time. That's why it's so
important for your child to take his preventive
medicine even when he's not having symptoms.
Your child's lungs have
two main jobs:
• take in
oxygen from the air he breathes
• get rid of carbon dioxide from his body
Air goes down the throat
and trachea and into the lungs. Bronchial tubes lead
from the trachea into the lungs. These tubes are wrapped
by bands of muscle.
Inside the lungs are small sacs called alveoli. In
these sacs, oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide
in the blood.
During normal breathing, muscles surrounding airways
are relaxed, and air moves freely. For lungs to perform
at their best, the airways need to be open when your
child inhales and exhales, and free from constriction
and inflammation.
Asthma causes
these changes to the airways:
• inflammation:
the lining of the airways becomes swollen
• increased sensitivity: when airways are
inflamed, they become more sensitive to triggers
• narrowing or obstruction: the muscles around
the airway constrict so airways become narrow. Also,
in some people with asthma, the mucus glands in
the airways produce excessive, thick mucus.
What are asthma triggers?
Certain things can bring on an asthma
attack. These are called asthma triggers. Not all
children with asthma share the same trigger.
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How can my child avoid triggers?
Keep track of when your child has asthma
attacks and what was going on at the time of the attack.
This may help you pinpoint your child's triggers.
Many children with asthma have what
is termed "allergic asthma." That means
allergens (such as mold, animal dander, cockroaches,
dust mites) worsen their asthma symptoms.
Once you've identified your child's
triggers, make sure he avoids things that make it
harder for him to breathe. Watch your local weather
reports to determine if pollution is particularly
bad in your area. Also:
• Avoid smoke and don't
allow smoking in your home.
• If air pollution is bad, minimize the time
your child spends outdoors.
Common Asthma Triggers:
• Upper respiratory infections: cold and flu,
bronchitis or sinus infections
• Allergens: Many children with asthma have
allergic asthma - allergens worsen symptoms.
Indoor Allergens: molds, animal dander or hair,
dust mites, cockroaches
Outdoor Allergens: trees, grass, weed pollens and
mold spores
Food Allergens: not a common trigger, but can cause
asthma symptoms
• Exercise: Running can trigger an episode
in more than 80 percent of children with asthma.
Other physical activities can also trigger an attack.
• Irritants: cigarette smoke, wood smoke,
strong odors such as perfumes, cleaning agents,
air pollution and fumes.
• Weather: cold air, changes in temperature
and humidity.
• Strong displays of emotion: Anxiety, crying,
yelling and laughing hard involve deep rapid breathing
and can trigger an asthma attack.
• Certain medications: aspirin, non-steroidal
and anti-inflammatory drugs.
How is asthma treated?
There are two main types of asthma
medicines that treat the constriction and airway inflammation:
1. preventive medicines, such as
inhaled corticosteroids, long-acting bronchodilators
and long-term controller medications called leukotriene
blockers
2. rescue medicines, such as inhaled,
fast-acting bronchodilators like albuterol
Does my child have to take steroid
medicine to prevent asthma attacks?
Not necessarily. There are non-steroid preventative
medicines available:
• Long-acting broncodilators
keep the airways open by relaxing the muscles surrounding
them to prevent airway constriction from occurring
in the first place.
• Leukotriene blockers block leukotrienes,
substances that are associated with the inflammatory
process of asthma. This helps keep your child's
bronchial airways open, making breathing easier-so
symptoms may be less frequent and less severe.
Work with your doctor to find the medicine and treatment
plan that's right for your child.
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What are rescue medicines?
How do they work?
Rescue medicines are also known as
"rescue inhalers," "fast-acting inhalers"
or fast-acting "puffers." These medicines
are taken when sudden asthma symptoms occur. They
work quickly to open the airways by relaxing airway
muscles but do not provide long-term asthma control
or help prevent future attacks.
Early Warning Signs of Asthma
Early warning signs come before an
attack. These signs vary from child to child, and
can be different with each episode. However, this
list below gives some examples of early warning signs:
• breathing changes (fast
breathing, pursed-lips breathing, etc.)
• peak flow numbers getting lower
• cough
• unusual paleness or sweating
• grumpy or easily upset
• hunched-over body posture; the child can't
stand or sit straight and can't relax
• feeling restless
• glassy look to eyes
• feeling funny in the chest
• itchy chin or throat
• feeling weak or tired
• heart beating faster
• change in sputum (mucus)
• trouble sleeping
Five Emergency Signs
Call you doctor or get emergency medical
care if your child has any of these signs:
1. Wheeze, cough or shortness of
breath gets worse, even after the rescue medicine
(bronchodilator such as albuterol) has been given
and has had time to work. Most inhaled bronchodilators
work within five to 10 minutes. Ask your doctor
how soon you will see effects from your child's
rescue medicine.
2. Chest and neck are pulled or sucked
in with each breath. This means your child is having
a hard time breathing.
3. Trouble walking or talking.
4. Peak flow rate drops to 50 percent
or less of your child's best rate, and does not
improve even after the rescue medicine has been
given. Work with your doctor to develop a peak flow
monitoring plan.
5. Lips or fingernails are gray or
blue. If this happens: This in an emergency! Get
emergency care right away.
All information provided by Healthy
Advice for Your Child © 2004 On Target Media,
LLC
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