THE FACTS ABOUT CHILDREN AND ASTHMA
Asthma is known as a chronic condition where an individual has difficulty breathing due to a bronchial hypersensitivity disorder. There are three main physiological changes that occur in the lungs causing the difficulty to breathe. The first is the cells in the air tubes make more mucus than normal, which in turn clogs up the tubes. Next the air tubes begin to swell and expand. Eventually this could cause tightness in the surrounding muscles. Some symptoms of an attack can include difficulty breathing, trouble talking, neck muscles and skin around the ribs tighten up, lips and fingernails may turn blue, and in an infant you may see chest expansion. This can lead to a life-threatening disease is not managed properly.
An asthma attack may occur suddenly or may take several days to develop. It is characterized by the lungs sensitivity to various stimuli. Some of the various stimuli include:
- Respiratory infections, colds
- Cigarette smoke
- Allergic reactions to such allergens as pollen, mold, animal dander, feather, dust, food and cockroaches
- Exercise
- Indoor and outdoor air pollutants
- Exposure to cold air or sudden temperature change
- Vigorous exercise
- Excitement/stress
Asthma can affect an individual of any size, shape, color, age or sex. In 2003, it was estimated that 31% of the individuals that suffered from this condition where children under the age of 18. Here are just a few of the surprising statistics connected to children and asthma:
- It is estimated that 6.1 million children under 18 currently suffer from asthma
- Asthma is the third leading cause of hospitalization among children under the age of 15 and is the leading cause of chronic illness among children
- 658,000 pediatric emergency room visits in 1999 were due to asthma
- Asthma accounts for 14.6 million lost school days in 2002
- Secondhand smoke can cause serious harm to children. It is estimated that 200,000 to one million asthmatic children will have the condition worsened by exposure to secondhand smoke
- The direct cost of managing a patient with severe asthma has been estimated at more than $18,000 per year
- Children with asthma will spend approximately 7.3 million days per year restricted to bed rest
- Statistics from the American Lung Association
Natural Health Care Approaches (Linked to Asthma Attack Reduction)
- Make sure your child gets plenty of Vitamin E. Researchers have found that a higher of vitamin E, an anti-oxidant, lowers the serum IgE concentrations and in turn lowers the frequency of allergen sensitization
- Incorporate Omega-3 fatty acids. This will help level out the consumption of the polysaturated fats consumed in today’s diet
- Vitamin C will help boost your child’s immune system
- Keep children out of smoky environments
- Remember to get your child’s spine checked regularly by a chiropractor. Research chows that upper thoracic subluxations have been shown to compromise nerve impulses that supply the lungs. Compromise of the nervous system can put the body in distress, which can lead to loss of function and eventually health. So have your child’s spine checked today to make sure it is functioning optimally.
Dr. Brian Moravec
Delta Chiropractic Associates Inc. All Rights Reserved. Copyrighted© Material
