5 tips to manage your child's asthma

Imagine the trauma of the parents who have to see their children coughing and struggling to breathe or speak. This is what parents of asthmatic children go through. Whether the asthma attack happens in mid of a cricket or a soccer match or when the child is sleeping, it’s difficult for parents to see their children go through one; more difficult for the child to cope with it.

However, you can manage your child’s asthma better by keeping the symptoms under control with an effective ‘asthma action plan’. Follow these 5 simple tips:

1. Check your home environment for asthma triggers:

   Keep your child away from the potential allergens. For example, if dust particles trigger allergic asthma in your child, make sure you minimize the use of carpets and wash linen in hot water to get rid of dust mites. If pets are the cause of allergic asthma, bathe and groom them regularly and keep them out of your beds, as their falling hair may aggravate the child’s asthmatic symptoms.

2. Keep detailed records:

   Details about your child will help your homeopathic doctor suggest an effective remedy and also manage your child’s asthma symptoms better. So, keep a record of details like how many times your child has had asthma episodes, what might have possibly triggered the onset of symptoms, preventive medications that you have given him and his response to the treatment.

3. Encourage your child to exercise:

   Who says your child cannot exercise or play outdoor games if he has asthma? In a UK survey, 83% of parents who have children with asthma said that exercise helped their children to feel better. Being over-weight worsens the symptoms of asthma. Exercise is therefore a must if your child is asthmatic. However, asthma can also be induced by excessive exercise. Therefore, take help of your doctor to guide you on what kind of exercises should be safe for your child. Swimming, aerobics and walking are usually safe for the asthma patients.

4. Do all the necessary tests:

   You should know which tests you need to do if your child has asthma. Usually, pulmonary (lung) function tests and asthma control test are suggested. Pulmonary function tests are done to measure how much air the lungs can hold and how fast air moves in and out. Asthma control test can be done online to grade the symptoms of asthma in terms of severity. This will help the doctors suggest an appropriate treatment.

5. Be patient with long-term treatments:

   Preventive medicines might not immediately relieve symptoms of asthma in the same way that inhalers do, but these treatments will help if used consistently for long-term. Many natural and safe treatments like homeopathy have proven efficacy in treating childhood asthma. So, be patient with these treatments if you want safe side-effects free relief for your child.

Remember that with proper management and care, children with asthma, like any other child can exercise normally, sleep well at night, attend regular school and emergency room can be kept at bay.