So your doctor told you that your child has asthma. Well, you're in good company. In some areas of California, up to 20 percent of children have been diagnosed with asthma. So what can you do about it? This article will focus on some practical strategies to increase your control over asthma, increase your ability to communicate with your doctor, and finally how to determine when things are worse than you can handle at home and medical attention is necessary.
Triggers
Identifying your child's asthma triggers is a crucial part of home asthma treatment. Sometimes the triggers will be obvious, and sometimes not. If the triggers aren't obvious, keep a log of your child's attacks. Where was your child when the attack started? What was your child doing when the attack started? A very small detail might be the key.
The most common triggers that affect children include colds, exposure to smoking, weather changes, and allergies. Some of these we can't control, but some we can, often with very little effort.
Colds: Teach your child good hygiene. Good hand-washing goes a long way in preventing colds. Also, your child should get an annual flu shot. It's the one cold we can prevent!
