Asthma
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Laurel Pediatric & Teen Medical Center
Pediatricians located in Bel Air, MD
When it comes to chronic childhood diseases, asthma ranks at the very top, affecting 6.2 million children under the age of 18. One of the most important ways to successfully combat the condition is through appropriate management. At Laurel Pediatrics & Teen Medical Center, we help children in Harford County, control their asthma, helping them to breathe easier. When necessary, we refer our patients to asthma specialists. For asthma maintenance management, call to book an appointment today.
Asthma Q & A
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a condition that affects your child’s airways, causing them to swell and narrow, making breathing difficult. Another hallmark of the condition is an increase in mucus production, which further complicates your child’s ability to breathe.
While some kids only suffer an occasional, minor attack of asthma, others are plagued by persistent, even life-threatening attacks. Most children fall somewhere in between, requiring a little extra medical care.
What are the Symptoms of Asthma?
The most common symptoms of asthma include:
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing and coughing
- Tightness in the chest
Depending on the severity of your child’s asthma, these symptoms may only come on infrequently, or they may be present round the clock.
What Causes Asthma?
When it comes to asthma, there’s no known cause for the condition, but there are known triggers and risk factors. The most common triggers for an asthma attack, include:
- Allergies
- Respiratory infections
- Exercise
- Cold air
- Pollutants, such as smoke
- Certain food additives and preservatives
- Certain medications
While medical researchers haven’t identified a single cause of asthma, they have uncovered several risk factors, including heredity, environment, and pre-existing allergies.
How is Asthma Treated?
Since there’s no single cause of asthma, there’s no cure for the chronic disease. However, our office has many treatment tools in our arsenal to help you manage your child’s asthma, including:
- Spot medications, such as inhalers
- Long-term medications, such as beta agonists
- Bronchial thermoplasty
The most important steps you can take in controlling and managing your child’s asthma are lifestyle and homefront changes. Our providers will review ways you can control the triggers that bring on your child’s attacks, including:
- Installing an air conditioner
- Maintaining humidity
- Reducing irritants, such as mold and pet dander
- Regular cleaning
- Protecting your child’s airways when it’s cold out
Managing your child’s asthma usually requires a combination approach, which our providers will perform in collaboration with asthma specialists. Under our guidance, you can successfully minimize the impact asthma has on your child’s life.
For maintenance management of your child’s asthma, call Laurel Pediatric & Teen Medical Center to book an appointment today.
