Childhood Asthma and Allergy - Better Breathing for Children

Childhood asthma is the most common serious chronic ailment in children in the United States today. Nearly 7 million children have been diagnosed with asthma and it is estimated that there are many more that have just not ever received a formal diagnosis. Childhood asthma and allergy seem to go hand in hand. Kids that have asthma are much more likely to suffer from environmental allergies and children with allergies are much more likely to develop asthma. The good news is that, for most children, childhood asthma is something that they will grow out of as they approach adulthood.

The American Lung Association has noted that asthma attacks are one of the leading causes of hospitalization among children and has placed a great focus on controlling the symptoms, rather than just treating the attacks. There are many reliable medications available that can help keep childhood asthma and allergy at bay, but they do have some side effects associated with them, including delayed growth. Although the side effects are not common, they do give some parents pause. Many parents are exploring natural remedies for asthma control because they fear for the impact that the side effects may have on their kids.

When you stop and think about it, it makes sense that there would be some more natural ways of managing asthma. Medications have not always been available, and yet children survived. If we take a page out of the books of our ancestors, we can find some great inspiration for controlling asthma for our children in our kitchen cupboards! Some of the natural and holistic remedies that are available to help control childhood asthma and allergy include dietary changes, herbal supplements and different breathing exercises. As with so many things, a poor, unbalanced diet can just make asthma worse. Make sure that your child’s diet includes plenty of fruits, vegetables and limits fats. This can help reduce the asthma symptoms that your child suffers from on average.

If you are considering alternative medicine to help treat your child’s asthma it is important that you consult your pediatrician. He can sit down and discuss the severity of your child’s case with you along with the likelihood that these more natural remedies will be effective. Childhood asthma and allergy is very common and manageable, but with the wrong care, it can be fatal, so don’t take any chances. Keep your child’s pediatrician in the loop and contact him or her should you see any changes, either positive or negative after implementing a new treatment.

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