Children with Asthma

Asthma : A chronic inflammatory condition of the airways that can cause - without appropriate treatment - varying levels of breathing difficulties.

Symptoms of an Asthma Attack :
*wheezing or high-pitched whistle sounds when breathing out
*history of any of the following ; coughing getting worse mostly at night 
*coughing or wheezing happening while exercising ; viral infections ; furry animals ; mold ; tobacco and wood smoke ; pollen ; weather changes ; strong emotional expressions ; airborne chemicals or dust
*symptoms that improve when asthma medicines, such as albuterol, are given
*difficulty talking
*feeling of anxiety or panic
*pale, sweaty face
*blue lips or fingernails
*worsening symptoms despite use of your medications

How does Asthma Occur :

Asthma occurs when certain cells from your immune system misidentify substances as very harmful and overreact to them, causing the bronchial tubes in your lungs to become inflamed and narrowed.

How do people get Asthma (Adults and Teens) :

Here are 10 risk factors to assess your likelihood of developing asthma ;
1. You're Overweight : When someone is overweight, all their organs have to work harder, including their lungs.
2. You have skin allergies : Studies show that there is a correlation between skin allergies and asthma.
3. You have nasal allergies : People who suffer from nasal allergies are likely to develop asthma.
4. You have eye allergies : Once you have one allergy -- skin, food, nose, eyes -- you're at greater risk for developing other allergies and, in this case, asthma.
5. Your mom or dad has asthma : Your chances of have asthma increase significantly when asthma runs in your family.
6. You're a boy : The likelihood of having it does depend on age and gender, before puberty, asthma is more common in males.
7. You're a young women : Asthma is more prevalent in women than in men, but the battle of the sexes evens out with time.
8. You're pregnant : Weight gain is a natural and healthy part of pregnancy, but it can mean hard work for your lungs ; the baby pressing on the diaphragm, the extra pounds the lungs must support, and the growing fetus for which the lungs must now also breath.
9. You have hyperactive airways : It's a similar condition to asthma, and having hyperactive airways puts people at greater risk for developing asthma as adults
10. You're no stranger to tobacco smoke : Children who grow up around smokers are more likely to develop asthma than kids whose parents don't smoke

How to Treat Asthma :

Asthma is a long-term disease that has no cure, the goal of asthma treatment is to control the disease. 
* working with your doctor to treat other conditions that can interfere with asthma management 
* you take quick-relief medicines no more than 2 days a week
* your peak flow doesn't drop below 80 percent of your personal best number
* use / keep your inhaler with you when exercising