The Secrets of Asthma

Asthma can be set off by infection, exercise, cold air, air pollution, and allergies. With asthma, the airways in the lungs are inflamed and become very narrow during and attack. It is more common in children who are over two years of age. Severe asthma is a lot easier to diagnose than mild cases. If you take your child to the doctor, and he prescribes medicine to prevent constriction, or to dilate the airways, and the medicine helps, then your child more than likely has asthma. The symptoms of asthma are coughing and wheezing, especially at night, as well as becoming short of breath following any exertion. The first symptoms often first start just after your child has had a bad cold. Acute attacks of asthma can be extremely frightening for a child, as w ell as for those around her, and she could even turn blue from lack of oxygen. Keep calm, and help her to breathe slowly, without panicking. Encourage her to use inhalers regularly, and to accept this as a normal part of her life.