4 Useful Tips on How to Manage Your Child’s Asthma as a Family

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4 Useful Tips on How to Manage Your Child’s Asthma as a Family

Asthma is one of the most prevalent chronic health issues in Australia. Affecting 25% of all Australian children and 1 in every 9 adults. This respiratory condition can have a negative impact on your child, preventing him or her from fully enjoying activities. They may feel discouraged or isolated, not just from other people but from other members of the family as well.

Tackling childhood asthma as a family can help your child feel included and valued. Involving all of the members of your family in spotting asthma triggers and ensuring a clean and safe home environment. Can also be very helpful in controlling your child’s symptoms and reducing asthma flare-up incidences. Read on for our 4 tips on how your family can take on childhood asthma together. 4 useful tips on how to manage your child’s asthma as a family.

1. Develop an asthma action plan

Asthma Action

Asthma Action

An asthma action plan is a helpful visual tool. It details the steps required to keep your child’s asthma under control. Because asthma presents itself differently from person to person. You should work with your child’s physician on a customised plan for him or her. It should include; a list of your child’s asthma medications, an outline of possible triggers, any early symptoms of a flare-up and how to get it under control, what to do in the event of a severe flare-up, and any signs that point to a need for emergency services.

Most plans employ a colour-coding system to make them easier to read. After developing the plan, you should share it with your child, the rest of the family including his or her siblings, as well as any other individuals who will supervise your child during the day, such as daycare or school staff. Furnish the school or daycare centre with a copy of the plan, as well as a list of contacts they can call in case of emergencies.

2. Learn what triggers your child’s asthma, and share that knowledge with the family

child’s asthma

child’s asthma

Asthma triggers are described as anything that can irritate your child’s airways, thus setting off his or her asthma. Common triggers include; smoke, mould, dust, animal hair and dander, changes in the weather, and cold and flu viruses, among others. Your child can have more than one trigger.

Keeping a journal of your child’s daily activities and making note of any symptoms that present themselves from day-to-day. Can be invaluable in identifying patterns and narrowing down your child’s asthma triggers. You can also speak with your child’s physician to work out what his or her triggers are. Once you have a comprehensive list of triggers. You can actively work with your family to help your child avoid them. For triggers that simply can’t be avoided, such as changes in the weather. You can supplement with medication that can protect your child’s airways.

3. Encourage family members to keep the home clean at all times

Living with a child suffering from asthma raises the stakes significantly when it comes to keeping your home clean. As mentioned above, irritants such as smoke, dust, mould and animal hair can trigger severe flare-ups. Which means that maintaining cleanliness in the home is more crucial than ever before.

Putting a cleaning schedule together and bringing all of the family members in to help out and do their part. Can lighten a significant undertaking. Cluing younger members of the family into the situation and explaining why the home must be kept tidy at all times. Can also imbue them with a sense of responsibility.

4. Educate the family on what to do during a full-blown flare-up

A severe asthma flare-up can be serious and life-threatening—and they all can’t be spotted early. In the event of a full-blown flare-up. Your child could experience trouble breathing even if he or she is sitting still. Blue discolouration around the lips could be a sign of cyanosis. Which means that your child may not be receiving adequate oxygen.

It’s always a good idea to attend asthma and anaphylaxis training course as the parent of an asthmatic child. These can provide you with the knowledge and practical skills required to administer first aid to your child. Should they suffer from a severe asthma flare-up in your presence. You can then share this knowledge with the rest of the family so that they, too, know what to do.

As a parent, you want your child to be able to enjoy his or her childhood to the fullest. With proper management and the entire family coming together to help, he or she can do just that.

Kit Snow

A knowledgeable and qualified blogger. Here you can see my skills which gives you brief ideas on understanding all the concepts with different themes.

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