Living with asthma can be even more challenging for children, especially young ones, because it is harder for them to understand what is going on. Your job as a parent is to help your child be as active and healthy as possible, despite having asthma.
Here are some tips from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute that—if followed—will help you help your child to keep asthma under control:
- Keep your doctor's appointments for your child. You may even want to consider seeing an allergist, pulmonologist, or other asthma specialist.
- Work with your child's doctor on an asthma action plan and make sure you know how to follow it.
- Talk to your child about asthma and how to control it.
- Protect your child from secondhand smoke in your home and in public places.
- Take action to prevent your child from coming into contact with common asthma triggers, such as pollen, dust mites, cockroaches, or pet dander.
- Give your child his or her asthma medicine as prescribed, and when your child is old enough, teach him or her how to take medicine independently.
- Use a peak flow meter with your child to help monitor and control asthma.
- Your child can be active. So, make sure he or she participates in everyday kid activities and play.
- Team up with your child's other caregivers, teachers, or coaches to help manage his / her asthma. And make sure they have copies of your child's asthma action plan.
Learn more about how to help your child:
- Tips for talking with your child about asthma
- Understanding the basics of childhood asthma
- How to handle your child's asthma attacks
- Tips for avoiding secondhand smoke exposure
- How to use Your Asthma Action Plan
Source:
NIH, (2007). Living with asthma. Retrieved April 9, 2007, from National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Web site: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Asthma/Asthma_LivingWith.html
