Asthma Prevention: A Pediatrician's Guide to Respiratory Health

An asthma attack can be scary, especially if it happens to your child. There are some steps you can take to help prevent an asthma attack. Our pediatrician can tell you more.

What You Need To Know About Asthma and Asthma Prevention

Asthma symptoms are often brought on by exposure to an allergen, a substance your child is allergic to. The first step in asthma prevention is for your child to have allergy testing from your pediatrician.

When you know what your child is allergic to, it makes it easier for your child to avoid the allergen, preventing an asthma attack. It’s not always possible to avoid the allergen, so your pediatrician can prescribe allergy treatments, including:

• Allergy injections
• Sublingual immunotherapy

Asthma symptoms are also brought on by environmental factors, including dust, mold, mildew, pet dander, and other irritants. To help prevent asthma symptoms brought on by environmental allergies, you should:

• Vacuum frequently, or consider switching to solid flooring
• Wash sheets and pillowcases frequently and use hypoallergenic linens
• Keep doors and windows closed in spring and summer
• Install an air filter in your house, especially in your child’s bedroom

Our pediatrician can also prescribe medications to help when your child has asthma symptoms. Common asthma treatments include:

• Short-acting rescue inhalers, to help your child with an acute asthma attack
• Long-term asthma medication, to provide constant relief from asthma symptoms

A severe, acute asthma attack can be life-threatening, so call emergency services if your child is:

• Unable to speak due to breathing difficulties
• Severely gasping and wheezing, even with medications
• Breathing so deeply the chest gets sucked under the ribcage

Want To Know More?

Your child’s life doesn’t have to be controlled by asthma. Your child deserves to have an active life, free from worry about an asthma attack. To find out more about asthma prevention and treatment, talk with an expert. Call our pediatrician today.