Reducing Your Child’s Asthma Triggers

Post courtesy of Lungtropolis®, an interactive web-based learning game created to help children ages 5-10 control their asthma. The site incorporates a resource for parents featuring comprehensive tips on caring for a child with asthma.

A dog or cat, secondhand smoke from a
cigarette, a stormy day - any of these can trigger asthma symptoms in children.
For some kids, even getting upset or stressed out can bring on an asthma
emergency. While quick-relief medication can be a lifeline in these situations,
the best remedy is to proactively manage your child's asthma by learning what
his or her triggers are and carefully avoiding them.

Understanding and avoiding these asthma
triggers can go a long way toward curbing asthma symptoms in children. The
following is a look at common triggers and how to avoid them.

Sickness
and Medical Conditions

When aggravated, some medical conditions can
bring on asthma symptoms. In particular, respiratory infections such as colds,
flu or sinus infections are the most common cause of asthma flare-ups,
according to the American Lung Association. Make sure your child stays healthy
by:

• Getting a seasonal
  flu shot.
• Taking vitamin C,
  Echinacea or other immune system boosters.
• Regularly taking
  any prescribed medications related to a medical condition.
  

Poor Air
Quality

Breathing quality air is especially important
for asthma sufferers. Cigarette or pipe smoke, car exhaust, smog and the
presence of mold can all bring on an onslaught of asthma symptoms. Even
products with strong odors (such as household cleaners, perfumes, scented
candles, incense and hairspray) can exacerbate your child's condition. To avoid
these asthma triggers:

• Avoid smoking
  around your child, and ask other adults to do so, as well.
• Keep an eye on
  local smog alerts and limit the time your child spends out of doors on
  days with high pollution levels.
• Prevent mold
  growth in your home by running a dehumidifier and using the exhaust fan
  when taking a shower.
• Avoid using
  odorous products, and ventilate your home after using strong-smelling
  cleaners.

Animals
and Pests

If your child is allergic to animals - most
often birds and critters with fur - exposure to dander or saliva is likely to
induce asthma symptoms. The presence of pests (such as dust mites or
cockroaches) at home or school can also be a problem. Minimize the impact on
your child by:

• Barring pets from
  the bedroom and any other areas of the home where your child spends a lot
  of time.
• Keeping pet kisses
  to a minimum.
• Giving your pet a
  weekly bath.
• Vacuuming and
  dusting weekly.
• Using
  allergen-proof mattress and pillow covers.
• Washing bedding
  regularly.

Exercise
and Strong Emotions

Asthma symptoms in children can be brought on
by physical exertion as well as strong emotions, both of which may increase the
rate of breathing. (That's right; anger, yelling, crying, fear, stress and even
laughter can all be asthma triggers.) While neither emotions nor exercise can
be avoided altogether, you can reduce the impact by:

• Instructing your
  child to take his or her quick-relief medication before exercising.
• Monitoring the air
  quality if your child will be exercising outside.
• Providing your
  child with emotional management tools, such as breathing exercises. 
• Keeping stress to
  a minimum.

Pollen
& Weather-Related Factors

Spring and fall can be hard on children with
asthma. Not only do pollen levels tend to fluctuate during these times, but
extreme weather and sudden changes in temperature are common. Mitigate the
impact by limiting outdoor time during high-pollen days and always being
prepared for the weather before leaving home.

Food
& Medicine Allergies

Common food allergies (such as peanuts or
shellfish) and certain medications (including aspirin and non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs) can be sneaky asthma triggers. If your child has an
asthma emergency, tell your healthcare provider about any foods or medications
your child has ingested that may impact his or her asthma.

It's important to note that while it's easy
to minimize asthma triggers within your home, it's much more difficult to keep
your child away from these situations at school or anywhere else he or she
spends a lot of time. Once you have a handle on what your child's triggers are,
it's worthwhile to sit down with school officials and discuss how to limit
exposure to them during the school day.

Written by Susan Schroeder, MPH,
MCHES, PMP, a Research Scientist at ORCAS. Susan has over 12 years' experience
as an intervention designer and content developer of Web-based health programs.
Ms. Schroeder is Principal Investigator on the Multimedia Asthma Self-Management
Program and working on four other NIH-funded projects to develop innovative
mHealth self-management solutions for physical and emotional well-being.