Asthma is the most common long-term disease of children. It affects the airways of the lungs causing it to narrow, thus, restricting the passage of the air into the lungs. But asthma in children can be controlled in a lot of ways. By controlling it, they can live normally and actively just like other healthy children.
Knowing the signs of asthma can help in case of occurrence of asthma attacks. A lot of asthma triggers are found inside our homes, such as molds, dust mites, second hand smoke, pets, and chemical irritants. There are also other contributing factors such as air pollution (small particles and pollens), exercise, and foods.
Molds are found on moist areas like the shower curtain, bath materials, sink, and tiles. If you find mold, clean it with soap and water. Proper ventilation of kitchens and bathrooms are recommended by putting an exhaust fan and opening the windows. Also, dry the damp places to prevent the formation of molds.
Dust mites are small bugs that we can’t see using our naked eyes. They usually thrive on bedding, pillows, stuffed toys, and carpets. These items are commonly found in children’s rooms. Since kids spend a lot of their time inside their room, it is best to ensure that the room is clean at all times. Change the bedding regularly, clean stuffed toys by washing them because they accumulate a lot of dust particles, and keep the bedroom dust-free. It is also advisable to use dust filter technology to assure that the air that your child breathes in is clean.
Smoke can trigger an asthma attack. If somebody is a smoker, don’t let him or her smoke inside your house or anywhere near your asthmatic children.
If you have pets at home, observe your children’s body reactions when they’re with the pets. If asthma is triggered by the pet’s dander, limit their exposure to those pets. Make sure you keep pets out of the bedroom.
Chemical irritants are often found at home. These include cosmetics, laundry powder, cleaners, and air freshener. These products must not be used often. When using any of these, make sure that kids are not present and that the windows are open and the exhaust fan is turned on. Also, keep them away from children’s reach.
Air pollution can also trigger an attack. It comes from the smoke emitted by vehicles and factories. Avoid bringing children to open areas if the air pollution is high. If spending some time outdoors cannot be avoided, simply make your children wear a mask to prevent inhaling particulates.
Making your children exercise is good but it can become too much for the body of asthmatics and cause respiratory asthma attacks. Parents must monitor the children’s threshold of activities and talk to them about their condition so that they will be aware of what’s happening with their body. This way, they are able to prevent exercise induced asthma.
There are certain foods that asthmatics can’t eat because these provoke an allergic reaction, such as chicken, eggs, and seafood. Inform your children the foods that may cause asthma. Asthma is not curable but it can be prevented by having the right knowledge and taking proper actions.
