Managing Childhood Asthma
Managing Childhood AsthmaKids can develop asthma at any age. In fact, it’s quite common.“Our daughter Kendyll is eight years old and she has asthma.”“She’s hard headed, which she gets both from me and her mother. Strong-willed. If she sets her mindto something, she’s going to do it.”Kendyll Kloskowski found out she has asthma four years ago. Her father has it, too. But Kendyll and herparents keep her asthma under control by using something called her asthma action plan…“Her asthma action plan is everything for her. If we do not follow that accordingly, she is in the hospital.They set it up for her specifically based upon previous experiences and how she handles themedicines. If she starts to struggle and we don’t use her action plan, we can guarantee we’ll be in thehospital.”Your doctor helps create your action plan just for you, depending on the kinds of things that can trigger yourasthma. Your triggers may be different from other kids who have asthma. They might include dirty air outside,chemicals, changes in the weather, smoke, dust, stress or, for some kids, hard exercise.Your action plan will also explain what medications to take, when to take them, and how much to take. Andeveryone who has asthma has their own personal action plan...“The general goals of a child with asthma are to make sure they can do everything that they want to.They can run around and play just like normal kids……To get rid of any regular coughing that they might have. And specifically, to make sure they cantolerate things like colds, tolerate being around their triggers without getting very, very sick or needinglots of medications.”Your plan might be set up like a stoplight, with three sections: green, yellow and red.“The green zone is generally the regular medications that you should do all the time, whether you’rehealthy, whether you’re sick, no matter what.”“The yellow zone is specifically where we put the rescue medications. It’s what you should do whenyou’re around a trigger or have symptoms when you’re sick.”“The red zone includes what to do if you’re having a really bad asthma attack.”Some kids use inhalers to breathe the asthma medicine right into their lungs. Others take pills. Your doctor willhelp you and your parents decide what medications are right for you. And, again, it’s all laid out in your asthmaaction plan.“Share the plan with anybody who’s going to be around that child either by themselves or when theycould be around their triggers. Some important people are anyone who’s going to be watching the child,babysitters, grandparents, anybody they may be spending the weekend with. If there’s twohouseholds, make sure the plan is in place at all the different households.”This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.HCPD1007598 EN ManagingChildhoodAsthma.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 1 of 2Managing Childhood AsthmaStaying away from your asthma triggers might include some changes at home:-Cleaning up any mold around the house-Vacuuming and dusting regularly-Limiting your contact with pets or-Avoiding strong smells-Dust mites might be another problem spot at home4, but there’s a simple fix for that one…“Teach them to use dust mite covers for their mattresses and pillows. Nearly every asthmatic is goingto have some sort of reaction to dust mites.”Following your action plan will help you control your asthma…and do whatever you dream in life!“They have to be ok with telling people, you know what, I need to step back for a second to take mymedicine. But they can be professional athletes. They can be singers. They can be chefs. They can dowhatever they want as long as they are taking their medication.”“My dreams and goals for Kendyll is that she gets everything she wants out of life.She’s a dreamer…(edit)… I don’t want asthma to hold her back from anything.”This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.HCPD1007598 EN ManagingChildhoodAsthma.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 2 of 2
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