Up to 80% of kids with asthma have symptoms when they exercise. It makes sense that cigarette smoke and pollen could trigger asthma symptoms, but why exercise? Cold, dry air that’s inhaled during exercise is believed to be the main cause of these symptoms. When kids exercise or play strenuously, …
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Handling an Asthma Flare-Up
Asthma flare-ups (also called “asthma attacks”) can be dangerous, so if your child has them often and uses quick-relief medicine (also called rescue or fast-acting medicine) more than a couple of times a week, talk to your doctor. It’s possible that your child’s asthma action plan needs to be adjusted. Predicting …
If My Child Has Asthma, Can We Keep Our Pet?
Only about 10% of people have pet allergies, but at least 30% of people with asthma are allergic to animals. So if your child has asthma, consider whether your pet could be producing allergens that are triggering asthma symptoms. Despite what you might have heard, your pet’s fur probably isn’t to …
Inhaler or Nebulizer: Which One Should My Child Use?
Some kids who need asthma medicine start out using a nebulizer. Others are given an inhaler with a spacer and face mask. Some older kids use only an inhaler, with no spacer attached. So which is the best way to deliver asthma medicine to the lungs? Studies show that the …
Managing Asthma
Learning About Asthma The good news for most kids with asthma is that it can be controlled — sometimes so well that flare-ups are rare. The learning process can be the hardest part of controlling asthma. Between diagnosis and good control, there’s much to learn and a lot to do. Don’t be …
School and Asthma
An estimated 7 million U.S. kids under age 18 have been diagnosed with asthma and more than 13 million days of school are missed each year because of the condition, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. But well-managed asthma is far less likely to result in a …
Traveling and Asthma
Your child’s asthma shouldn’t stop you from planning a family vacation or sending your child to sleepover camp or on a trip with friends. With some careful preparation and communication, you and your child should be able to enjoy all the benefits of time away from home. Before you travel, make sure …
What’s an Asthma Action Plan?
An asthma action plan (or management plan) is a written plan that you develop with your child’s doctor to help control your child’s asthma. The goal of an asthma action plan is to reduce or prevent flare-ups and emergency department visits through day-to-day management. Having a written step-by-step plan in …
What’s an Asthma Flare-Up?
Kids with asthma might have days with no breathing problems at all. That’s a relief for parents and for kids because it means that the asthma is under control. But when asthma symptoms like wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath become more severe, more frequent, or both, it’s known as an …
What’s the Difference Between Quick-Relief and Long-Term Control Medicines?
The two main types of asthma medicine are quick-relief medicines and long-term control medicines: Quick-relief medicines (also called rescue medicines or fast-acting medicines) work immediately to relieve asthma symptoms when they happen. They’re often inhaled directly into the lungs, where they open up the airways and relieve symptoms such as wheezing, …