For the 25 million people that suffer from asthma, the inability to breathe during an asthma attack can be scary and even life-threatening. Of the 25 million people with asthma, 7 million are children.
This means that 9 percent of children in the United States have asthma and the percentage is increasing every year. Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases of children under the age of eighteen.
Asthma is a chronic disease that causes inflammation in the airways of the lungs. During an asthma attack the muscles in the airways constrict and cause the airways to narrow, making it hard for air to pass into the lungs. The mucous cells also tend to secrete mucus which further blocks the airways from allowing air into the lungs.
Many children express their first symptoms by age five. Many infants and toddlers that have repeated respiratory infections, wheezing or coughing, will be evaluated for asthma but will not be diagnosed with asthma until after the age of six. This is because lung function testing is difficult to do before that age.
Children can have multiple symptoms including;
• Coughing spells at night or during strenuous activities e.g., laughing, crying or playing
• Rapid breathing or labored breathings
• Chest pain or chest tightness
• Wheezing when breathing in and out
• Shortness of breath
• Feeling weak or tired
• Chronic cough
• Not energetic during play time
The causes of asthma are not completely understood. However parents with asthma, or people of black or Puerto Rican heritage are more likely to have children with asthma. Viral infections or exposure to allergens in early infancy while the immune system is developing is another possible cause of asthma.
There are risk factors that increase the risk of asthma or make the episodes worse. A child born with a low birth weight is at higher risk. Low income or poor families or children with frequent respiratory infections are more likely to have asthma. Children with nasal allergies or allergic skin rashes are also at risk.
In addition to the other risks for asthma children's parents need to be sensitive to their behaviors that impact their children, especially second-hand smoke. Up to 1 million of the 7 million children have their condition worsened by second-hand smoke.
For children with asthma the most important treatment plan is to stabilize them so they can reduce episodes and lead normal lives. This includes play and exercise at during school, and after-school activities.
If your child is diagnosed with asthma it is important to follow the treatment plan laid out by your doctor, including medications and avoiding triggers. It is a great time to consider naturopathic treatments as well, like dietary changes and lifestyle changes to introduce behaviors that children can incorporate for the rest of their lives to manage symptoms.
For more information about specific treatments for children with asthma contact me at www.Healthydaes.com/
Live Vibrantly,
Dr. Dae
Dr. Dae's website: www.healthydaes.org
Dr. Dae's Bio:
Dr. Daemon Jones is your diabetes reversal, hormones, metabolism and weight loss expert. Dr. Dae is a naturopathic doctor who treats patients all over the country using Skype and phone visits. Visit her or schedule a free consultation at her website www.HealthyDaes.org/
Sources:
"Asthma & Children Fact Sheet - American Lung Association." American Lung Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2014.
http://www.lung.org/lung-disease/asthma/resources/facts-and-figures/asthma-children-fact-sheet.html
"Asthma in Children & Infants: Symptoms and Treatments." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 7 May 2014.
http://www.webmd.com/asthma/guide/children-asthma
"May is Asthma Awareness Month." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 28 Apr. 2014. Web. 7 May 2014.
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/AsthmaAwareness
"What Is Asthma?." - NHLBI, NIH. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 May 2014.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/asthma
Reviewed May 8, 2014
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith