No one wants to spend time in the emergency room — especially when it’s your child in the sick bay. While breathing problems are common at any age, childhood asthma can require medical attention very quickly. Let’s be honest, it’s a parent’s worst nightmare. Children with asthma experience a unique set of challenges. Recognising the symptoms early could potentially save a life.
What to look out for:
– Wheezing, coughing or chest tightness at night.
– Asthma symptoms when they wake up in the morning.
– If your child is using their reliever multiple times per week.
– If their asthma is interfering with normal activities.
How to recognise an asthma attack:
– They are suffering from increased wheezing, cough, chest tightness and shortness of breath.
– They’re waking up during the night with a shortness of breath.
– They’re using their reliever more than once every three hours.
Call an ambulance if:
– Their symptoms get worse very quickly.
– They are suffering severe shortness of breath, can’t speak comfortably or their lips are looking blue.
– They receive little or no relief from their reliever inhaler.
A written asthma action plan will help you recognise when symptoms are worsening and reduce the risk of an attack. The plan is unique to your child and will reflect individual circumstances, patterns and triggers.
If someone in your family is suffering from asthma, pop into your local Blooms The Chemist and chat to your pharmacist about an asthma management health check. They can talk to you about your medications, symptoms, inhaler techniques, minimising your exposure to potential triggers and any complementary therapies like vaporisers and supplements.