Asthma is a very common chronic condition that causes the airways to become narrowed and irritated, which makes breathing difficult, and it can particularly affect young children. If you have a child who suffers from asthma, it’s important to try and support them as much as you can. Having an asthma attack can be very scary for a young child, so having a supportive parent can make all the difference.
Take Time To Understand Their Disease
Asthma is a complicated medical disorder, but with a little research, you can begin to understand the basics of how this affliction work, which can help you to empathize with and help your child. Your first port of call should, of course, be your doctor, but a little online research can give you some more in-depth information. Asthma can become a very serious problem in a child’s life, so learning what the symptoms are and how to help subdue them when they arise can make all the difference.
Be Patient And Learn To Listen To Them
Sometimes, especially with smaller children, it can be difficult to ascertain exactly what is wrong with them. They may be too panicked or simply not have the language capabilities yet to fully explain what is happening to them and what they need from you. This is why it’s important to be patient and calm with your child. This will help you not only to understand them quicker but may also help to calm them down too.
Make Sure You Regularly Check Up With Their Doctor
As with any long-term medical condition, it’s important to always follow the advice of your doctor and have regular check-ups. Without staying on top of getting the right medication, asthma can quickly start to have a debilitating effect on a child’s life, so it’s important to keep your child’s doctor informed of any changes or worsening of symptoms in case they need to provide a new approach.
Consider Respiratory Therapy
A respiratory therapist is a professional who works to assess and treat your child’s breathing issues, and will often be able to spend more time with them and provide more than a doctor could provide. They can coach your child to strengthen their lungs through breathing exercises and help teach them what to do when an asthma attack does strike. You could even consider becoming a respiratory therapist yourself – some of the best respiratory therapy programs are dotted all over the country.
Find Out Their Triggers
Very often, an asthma attack will have been triggered by some sort of external factors, such as dust or perfume. There are some triggers that are easy to spot or may cause a more violent reaction such as animal hair, but there are also some more subtle triggers that may be harder to spot.
Many asthma sufferers report that their asthma gets worse when they are stressed or tired, so keep a close eye on your child to see if this could be affecting their condition as well and help them to avoid it as much as you can.