Asthma! According to the American Lung Association, Asthma is the leading cause of chronic illness in children in the US and to add insult to injury: asthma causes 10.5 million missed school days annually! The moral of the story here is that if your child has Asthma, then consider checking in with your physician and get a game plan for school and flu season (if you already haven’t). If you don’t have kid’s with Asthma, but know a few who do, please pause too and ask their parents about asthma triggers and how you can help. The bottom line: Asthma is just plain mean, effects education, and needs a little extra attention this flu season.
At 2 am this last Christmas Eve, I finished up my elf duties and jumped on Facebook seeking some Holiday cheer. What I found were three different families, up in the wee hours managing asthma attacks while comforting their children that Santa will indeed stop by, even if they were up doing nebulizer treatments. Asthma doesn’t take winter breaks, it doesn’t seem to have a calendar either. Avoiding triggers, having an Asthma Action Plan in place and good rest all seem to help. Always visit your physician regarding asthma management. Each body is different and we all have different asthma triggers. Cold water effects my son, but not cold air (don’t ask, even I don’t understand that one), certain dog hair bothers my son while rabbits do nothing to him.
Here are two respected copies of asthma action plans that you can download and take to your physician and a few websites in case you want more information about asthma:
- Asthma Action Plan from the American Lung Association
- American Lung Association Asthma website link.
- Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America Asthma weblink.
If you are a friend of an asthmatic, before you invite your friend’s over, please ask what their triggers are and help them avoid them. For example, if you have a dog and dog hair is a trigger, then vacuum, try brushing the dog, do a thorough house cleaning or simply host your visit elsewhere. Sometimes scented candles effect my family, so even though those lovely bathroom candles are beautiful with their flickering light, you might find my kid’s eyeball your trees outside!
photo courtesy of beeswaxcandleco.com
I was shocked when I learned that Asthma is the Number One for missed school days, but am grateful that we have quite of bit of knowledge available. The good news is that Asthma can be successfully managed and controlled, but only with a plan and physician!
p.s. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) Has a Find An Allergist Link to help you find a specialist in your town
So feeling this right now. Between EOE and asthma my son has missed a lot of school this year. We too missed Christmas Eve dinner because of asthma, did steroids over break, and he’s missed almost this whole first week back at school. Very hard on working parents too. Just want to see him well!
Knock on wood, we haven’t seen the two week asthma storms in a while. It’s so rough and I think people sometimes don’t see it since these diseases are inviisble and our kids are active. I’ve known many working parents who have had their work effected by their child’s asthma.
Sorry to hear Kim you too spent Christmas Eve managing asthma. Thank goodness your family has such an intelligent dedicated mom on board! Seeing our kids sick is just torture. I’d rather be sick any day that my children. Is the inversion layer giving him problems?
I wonder how the statistics would change if students with ‘chronic cough’ received better medical treatment….
Judie, what I would love to see: The American Lung Assocition and the Orvis Nursing School (or any nursing school for non-Reno types) to bring back the asthma screening in schools. I think this made a HUGE difference!
There is an Asthma Bus in California that is a very amazing program. I think I need to blog on it!
http://articles.philly.com/2000-09-13/news/25582859_1_asthma-attack-pulmonologist-bus-features
Perhaps, there’s grant money to bring the bus to NV!!
I think you’re on to something wonderful Judie…
I so appreciate your blog. It’s filled with positive wisdom, encouragement to tackle various challenges we all face regarding life-threatening food allergies, environmental allergies and asthma. Thank you!! For sharing your knowledge and experiences. We all need each other as we climb and conquer our mountains! I know I will utilize your links and resources to better care for my sons.
Thanks for your kind words CJ, we all learn from each other. As soon as I think I’ve hit my stride, I learn something new. It is a journey for sure, but I love the fact that our little community of allergies and asthma all work together.
Have a great weekend!