The first and most important step to take is to decide to take charge of your child's asthma. If you are parent of asthmatic child, you may suffer a range of clashing feelings. Strongest is the natural concern for your children. Is the treatment you are following is good enough, or there are some alternatives? Also there can be worries about being over or under protective. Do you discriminate among your asthmatic and non-asthmatic child? Perhaps there is some blame that asthma may have been congenital and it is your fault your child has the condition.
Let's talk about this situation and dismiss this myth away. You have not forced it onto your child. It is nobody's fault or a judgment of some sort any more than an inborn capacity to be good sportsperson or artist. You can also take charge by educating yourself about the condition. Do not waste time worrying if there are better treatments or medications for your child. Find out. Use the medical profession, library and internet. The best treatment is knowledge.
Next, you need to be aware of your child's health. One problem with having an ill child is their inability to clearly explain how they feel. An asthmatic child may not come to you in the middle of the night and mention persistent coughing or difficulty breathing. Instead they may mention that they are sick when the situation is worsened.
Some children just take a rest when their breathing becomes difficult and never mention they feel out of breath.
If you think your child may have asthma you need to keep eyes on following symptoms: coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, changes in color of skin, nails, or lips, and a tightness of the chest. In addition, there are other signs, which suggest there may be a problem: nausea, lethargy, and low appetite.
If possible take a look at your child's breathing as they sleep. This will enable you to see how they breathe when they are relaxed. Then you will be able to tell when their breathing becomes labored.
Next, ensure your child takes any inhaled medication properly. Many asthma medications are delivered by inhalers and it is often difficult for a child to understand and perform the necessary sequence of breaths to take these medicines. How quick did your child take to learn to blow their nose correctly? Some children hold their breath while they keep their lips firmly together while breathing through their nose. Many children have a feeling that they cannot hold their breath for the needed time period and end up intensely gasping for air. If your ill child has to take drugs through a metered dose inhaler, it is often best to use it with a spacer or aero-chamber.
You need to be prepared for an asthma attack. Know what to do. If your child suffers an asthma attack keep calm and resist the urge to cuddle your child. Though this is perfectly natural it will constrict their chest and make it harder for them to breathe.
If you are taking your child to ER or a physician while they are having an asthma attack you must still fasten them into their child seat. Do not hold your child. Imagine what would happen if there was an accident.
To deal with asthma effectively you have to understand the disease and understand your child. You may be tempted to let your doctor make all the decisions, but there is so much more you can do than just administer medication. You can start yourself by making changes to the home environment, to your child's food, to how they breathe, and to the exercise they do. The more you know about asthma the more effectively you can control it.
