Your Child's Asthma: How To Cope

When your child has trouble breathing, it can be a frightening experience. If breathing difficulties happen over and over, your family may live in a constant state of alarm until they receive an official diagnosis of asthma from their pediatrician. Knowing what's wrong can be a relief for everyone, but you'll also need to use these pediatric asthma-related suggestions to ensure everyone copes well.

1 - Learn More

The pediatrician may provide excellent information to you about your child's asthma, but the news can be surprising and shocking. You might not hear some of what they said, and continue to have questions. You can call the physician at any time, but you should also be researching the disease on your own. Learn about the lungs, how they function, and what is happening to your child's body during an asthma attack. This knowledge can help you help them during attacks and when they have questions.

2 - Track Triggers

Asthma can present differently in different children. Some are triggered by allergens like excessive dust or pet hair, while others seem to have more attacks at night. Start tracking your own child's need for their rescue inhalers; this may allow you to better control their environment and remain better prepared for attacks before they happen.

3 - Tell Adults

Your family might be dealing with asthma at home, but your child's daycare providers, teachers, coaches, bus drivers, and other adults should also know. Your child can have an attack at any time, even when you aren't around. When responsible adults know this could occur, they can monitor your child and stay aware of any changes in their behavior. You may even choose for them to have an extra rescue inhaler on hand in case your child needs it.

4 - Plan for Emergencies

There will be times when your child forgets their inhaler or leaves it somewhere. Snow storms can make it difficult to reach the pharmacy. Emergencies can happen any hour of the day, and an asthma attack could happen in the midst of these events. Therefore, it's important to make contingency plans as you're able to before emergencies strike.

5 - Get Support

Controlling your child's asthma can be stressful -- that's why you should search for other parents of asthmatic children. Support groups can offer relief, ideas, and tips for asthma-related issues. This can decrease your stress.

Your child's asthma may be part of your lives for a long time. These suggestions and aid from your child's pediatrician can help your entire family to thrive in spite of the disease.