Asthma affects more than 25 million people in the United States, which includes six million children. In fact, asthma is more prevalent in kids, as 8.4% of the young population suffers from asthma as opposed to 7.6% of adults. At Seashore Pediatrics, Catherine Meli, MD and Naheed Rahmet, MD have extensive experience helping parents manage childhood asthma, allowing everyone to breathe easier. If you’re in Wall Township, New Jersey, and you’d like to find out more about asthma, call or use the online scheduler to book an appointment.
Asthma is a chronic respiratory problem that causes your child’s airways to swell, making it difficult for them to breathe. In addition to the inflammation, asthma also leads to excessive mucus production, further hampering breathing.
Asthma affects children differently. Some may have one or two asthma attacks and simply grow out of the condition. Other kids, however, may suffer frequent and severe attacks, even requiring hospitalization.
When it comes to the human body, there are still many mysteries to be unraveled, and asthma is one of them. Why your child’s body responds the way it does to certain irritants or triggers likely has something to do with genetics and environment, but researchers haven’t confirmed a root cause.
When discussing the causes of asthma, most people think of the triggers, which is what brings on an attack. While triggers aren’t the cause of the condition, they play an enormous role in the degree to which your child is affected by their asthma. Triggers can include allergens, physical activity, temperature, and even stress.
The most common symptoms of asthma in children are:
This last point is a serious one, and if you’re concerned your child is in immediate danger, please call 9-1-1. Otherwise, make an appointment with one of the pediatricians at Seashore Pediatrics for a full evaluation.
Since there’s no identifiable cause of asthma, there’s no cure for the condition, either. But with your doctor’s help and oversight, there’s a lot you can do to manage your child’s asthma through:
Managing asthma comes down to finding the right combination of techniques to prevent attacks, which the doctors help you uncover through their experience with diagnosing and managing asthma.
For comprehensive asthma care, call Seashore Pediatrics or schedule an appointment using the online booking tool.