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ASTHMA AND YOUR CHILD
Printed in the Family Post: Fall Issue 2003
Contributed by First
5 Nevada County
Nearly one in five of Nevada County’s children under age
6 have been diagnosed with asthma. This chronic lung disease is
a major concern of the First 5 Nevada County Children and Families
First Commission, so we wanted to share important information
with you. A child with asthma can lead a full, active and healthy
life with good family education and a plan of action.
What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that makes your airways inflamed
and creates breathing problems such as coughing, wheezing, chest
tightness and shortness of breath. Asthma episodes can be mild,
moderate, or even life threatening.
What are the symptoms of asthma?
The main symptoms of asthma are:
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Tightness in the chest
• Coughs lasting more than a week
It’s important to know that treatment can reverse asthma
symptoms – treating even mild symptoms can keep symptoms
from getting worse.
What causes an asthma episode?
Asthma episodes are “triggered” by environmental
irritants, allergens and infections.
General Irritants (Should be avoided by anyone with asthma)
-
tobacco smoke
-
spray deodorants, hair sprays, insect sprays,
cleaning sprays
-
talcum powder, make-up, perfume
-
chalk dust, odors from markers
-
smog and other air pollution
-
car and truck exhaust
-
odors from cleaning fluids, paints, furniture
polish, room fresheners
Allergic Triggers (Avoid if your are allergic to them)
-
colds, flu, sinus problems
-
exercise
-
bursts of emotion that affect breathing
-
some medicines
Tips about air pollution and asthma…
Research is now confirming that air pollution can trigger asthma.
There is both good and bad ozone. The ozone layer over the earth
is good, but ground-level ozone from vehicle emissions is bad
ozone.
Our skies are blue in Nevada County, but we have a “bad”
high ozone level, because of pollution that blows in from the
Sacramento area and the Bay Area. Children, in particular, are
susceptible to the effects of ozone because their lungs are still
developing, their airways are narrower, their immune systems are
not fully developed, and they are active outdoors. Ozone season
is May through October, and air quality is usually worse in the
afternoon when children are outside.
What can you do? Call the Northern Sierra Air Quality Management
District at 274-9360 to put your name on the health advisory list.
You’ll receive an email when the ozone level is high enough
that you may want to temporarily restrict your child’s activities.
Does my child have asthma?
Tell the doctor if your child …
1. Coughs a lot or has trouble breathing when:
2. Wheezes – noisy breathing or whistling sounds from
the chest
3. When having trouble breathing, sometimes:
4. Has head colds that “go to the chest” and last
more than 10 days
5. Has dry itchy skin, rashes or eczema
6. Has relatives with a history of asthma
7. Has gone to the emergency room for difficulty breathing
8. Has used medicine or an inhaler to breathe better
9. Coughs, wheezes or has a hard time breathing around:
-
-
pests – cockroaches, mice
-
pollens – grass, trees, plants,
weeds
-
-
perfumes – household sprays
-
-
-
-
These can be signs of asthma.
Asthma is a serious health problem, but it is treatable.
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