Allergies and Asthma
<p><b>Help your child avoid asthma triggers</b></p><p>If your child has asthma, you know that a variety of triggers can cause an asthma attack, ranging from second-hand smoke to plants and tree pollen. When a trigger is present, your child's airways expand, limiting air movement through the lungs.</p>
<p>Childhood asthma is incurable, and symptoms can last well into adulthood. Keeping asthma under control may be as simple as assisting your child in avoiding triggers.</p>
<p><b>Asthma triggers and preventative tips:</b></p>
<p><b>Infections</b></p>
<p>A viral respiratory infection is one of the most common causes of asthma flare-ups. An asthma attack can be triggered by any infection. The rhinovirus, which causes the common cold, is the most common.</p>
<p>Children experiencing asthma flare-ups triggered by one of these viruses have a harder time controlling symptoms with standard therapy.</p>
<p><b>Prevention:</b></p>
<p>If your child has asthma and is experiencing cold-like symptoms, keep an eye out for symptoms of a worsening cough, wheezing, or shortness of breath. Call your child's pediatrician if he has to use an inhaler more frequently.</p>
<p>Instill the significance of hand washing in the entire family. Make sure your child gets the yearly flu vaccine.</p>
<p><b>Indoor and outdoor allergens</b></p>
<p>Children with allergies frequently have asthma flare-ups as a result of indoor allergens. Dust mites, cockroaches, rodents, and pet dander are among the allergens.</p>
<p>Asthma flare-ups can also be triggered by seasonal exposure to allergens outside. Pollens and mold are the most frequent allergies found outside. Trees, grasses, and weeds all produce pollen.</p>
<p><b>Prevention:</b></p>
<p>To keep asthma under control, you should limit your children's exposure to allergens. Dust mites can be eliminated by using allergy-proof sleeping coverings and washing bedding frequently in hot water.</p>
<p>If you know pollen is a trigger for your child, encourage him to wash off the pollen after being outside. During high pollen seasons, keeping windows closed might also help decrease exposure.</p>
<p><b>Exercise</b></p>
<p>For some asthmatic children, exercise may be the only trigger. This is one of the most common triggers, along with allergies. While exercise is important for general health, your child should not avoid this trigger.</p>
<p><b>Prevention:</b></p>
<p>Don't put off getting active or participating in sports. Instead, discuss what your child should do before, during, and after exercise with your doctor. This might involve taking medication before exercising.</p>
<p><b>Tobacco & other pollutants</b></p>
<p>Pollutants can irritate the lungs and cause inflammation in the airways. Tobacco smoke is particularly harmful to the lungs and can exacerbate asthma attacks. Children who are exposed to cigarette smoke in the environment have greater wheezing, more severe asthma, and symptoms that persist longer.</p>
<p>Asthma flare-ups can also be triggered by other pollutants and lung irritants. Ozone (smog), perfumes, cleaning products, and chemicals are all asthma triggers.</p>
<p><b>Prevention:</b></p>
<p>Tobacco smoke should be avoided by children with asthma, especially secondhand and thirdhand exposure. When using cleaning chemicals, try to use unscented solutions and make sure there's enough of air.</p>
<p><b>Keep in mind</b></p>
<p>Preventing asthma flare-ups can be as simple as keeping your child away from asthma triggers. It can keep your child's airway from becoming irritated and overreacting. This can enhance your child's quality of life by reducing the frequency, length, and severity of his asthma symptoms. Speak to your child’s doctor if you have any concerns regarding his asthma.</p>