“If they’re waiting for that child to give them the news that they’re having problems with their asthma, they may find that it’s much too late.”
– Dr. Randall Brown, M.D., Pediatric Pulmonologist with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
New research from the American Thoracic Society reveals that intense exercise can provoke asthma-like symptoms in children – even those who are not actually asthmatic. While exercise can spur wheezing, even in healthy kids, nearly 5 million asthma sufferers are under age 18, making it the most common chronic childhood disease. It’s a condition that can be controlled if they take their medicine. And parents and coaches should know… that can be a big “if.”
Every single day 14-year-old Jack takes a pill before bedtime and uses two different kinds of inhalers throughout the day. All to keep his asthma under control.
“It’s just like brushing my teeth, like taking a shower or something. It’s just part of my life. It’s easy to forget that it can be so deadly,” says Jack.
In fact, a survey of more than 1,000 asthmatic teens found that 27 percent had attacks so bad they thought their life was in danger.
And yet…only half of all kids with severe asthma take their medication every day.
Experts say many kids become complacent.
“Even though the child might have mild symptoms… a severe flare up can happen at any time,” says Randall Brown, M.D., a Pediatric Pulmonologist with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
The survey also found 40 percent of parents didn’t know their children had experienced an asthma attack in the past month.
“As children get older we become less involved in their minute to minute, hour to hour lives,” says Dr. Brown.
And kids encourage that, he says. They don’t tell parents… or anyone else… about their asthma attacks because they just want to fit in and be like everyone else.
That means that they may not try to call attention to themselves when they actually do need to seek medical attention… when they actually do need to reach for an inhaler,” says Dr. Brown.
He says parents need to remind themselves and their child… asthma can be deadly.
And look for symptoms, don’t wait for your child to say something…
“You need to stay on top of it….it’s your child’s health,” says Jack’s mother, Hillary.
“You know one instance, a bad asthma attack, you don’t have your inhaler with you, you know… you don’t know what can happen,” adds Jack.
What We Need To Know
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), asthma is the most common serious chronic disease during childhood, affecting 5 million children under the age of 18. The AAAAI defines asthma as a chronic, inflammatory disease of the airways. The tubes that bring air to the lungs are constantly swollen and inflamed, making it difficult for air to move in and out freely. Those airways are also sensitive to certain triggers, which can vary from person to person. It is difficult to predict who will develop asthma and who won’t, but studies have shown that certain factors are associated with the onset of asthma symptoms in children:
- Wheezing accompanied by viral upper respiratory infections in infants and young children
- Allergies (The relationship between asthma and allergies is very strong. If your child has allergies, be on the alert for potential signs of childhood asthma.)
- A family history of asthma and/or allergy
- Perinatal exposure to tobacco smoke and allergens
Asthma is a very individualized disease. No two people have exactly the same symptoms or outcomes. The bottom line, according to the AAAAI, is for parents to watch and listen to their children.
A new study by the American Thoracic Society reports that it is possible that children who experience problems following intense exercise may have exercise-induced asthma. Nearly half of the 56 healthy children studied had at least one abnormal pulmonary function result following exercise, which often go undiagnosed. Some parents may not realize their children are having difficulty breathing after physical activity because kids tend to hide how they feel due to peer pressure or embarrassment.
Parents should be on the lookout for the following signs, especially if there is a family history of asthma or allergies.
- Shortness of breath that worsens during physical activity.
- Cough that may or may not produce phlegm.
- Chest tightness.
- Reduced athletic performance – meaning the child is physically able to do less than he or she could accomplish in the past.
- Wheezing that worsens during exercise and may begin suddenly.
- Prolonged recovery time following exercise, lasting noticeably longer than in the past.
The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology offers the following tips for parents of asthmatic children:
- Above all else, learn everything you can about asthma. And don’t take it lightly. It is a very serious condition.
- Learn what triggers your child’s attacks, and avoid those triggers as best you can.
- Recognize the signs of an oncoming attack, and learn to judge its severity.
- Provide preventive care so that your child has the least amount of difficulty with asthma.
- Teach your child how to care for him or herself.
Resources
- 7 Signs That Your Child May Have Exercise-Induced Asthma
- American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
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