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While asthma is a serious disease of the airways, affecting more than 66,000 children in Orange County, it is also a condition that can be controlled. The American Lung Association of Orange County encourages parents to take a positive approach to the problem. Learning to control asthma can be a stepping-stone for your child’s personal development. Your child will gain confidence as he or she learns to control the asthma. Qualities such as self-discipline and personal responsibility are frequently learned through struggles with any chronic illness. Your child will be in a variety of outdoor environments each day and asthma management skills should be inclusive of how to ease outdoor asthma triggers and emphasize safe activity. 4 Encourage physical activity within your child’s limits. Fortunately, the vast majority of children with asthma can participate in most activities, including track, basketball and soccer. Very few children with extremely severe asthma may wish to participate in an activity such as swimming, which is the least likely to provoke asthma symptoms. • Other activities, which do not involve prolonged running, will also be better tolerated. Encouragement and praise in these activities will kindle an inner desire for personal development in these and other activities. Precautions may be necessary to avoid inhalation of cold air, such as wearing a special ski mask designed for this purpose. A heavy scarf, worn loosely over the nose and mouth, will also help avoid cold-air induced asthma. Please ensure that the scarf is not composed of a material that may trigger your child’s asthma, such as wool. • The weather also affects outdoor inhalant allergens (pollens and molds). On a windy day, more allergens will be throughout the air, while a heavy rainfall will wash the air clean of allergens. On the other hand, a light rain might wash out pollen, but actually increase mold concentration. However, with the right balance of education, management skills, and empowerment, you can help your child live as normally and actively as possible.m To learn more, please call 800.LUNG.USA. |
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