Asthma in Children
Asthma is a long term condition that can cause life-threatening reactions in those who struggle with it. It’s incredibly important to address this chronic issue at a young age so the symptoms can be healed or managed and the likelihood of a life threatening attack is greatly reduced over time.
What exactly is asthma?
Asthma is a common disorder that causes difficulties with breathing, coughing, and wheezing. It is produced by a combination of lung spasms and inflammation, both of which impede the ability of the lungs to exchange air. Asthma symptoms can range in intensity from mild wheezing to life-threatening breathing issues. It affects roughly 3% of the US population, with children under the age of 10 being the most vulnerable.
FAQ about asthma in children
- What causes childhood asthma?
- What foods should my child avoid taking?
- What are the signs of childhood asthma?
- What are the treatments for childhood asthma?
What causes childhood asthma?
The environment and air quality are the major factors contributing to the development of your youngsters’ asthma. When your child is exposed to an asthma trigger, he or she may experience an asthma attack. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- House dust mites
- Mold
- Pets
- Grass, tree, and weed pollen
- Pest waste such as cockroaches and mice
- Inhaling chilly air
- Specific medications
- Chemicals found in the home
- Infections such as colds and the flu
- Pollution from the environment
- Cigarette smoking
- Exercise-induced asthma, which occurs during physical activity, particularly when the air is dry
Asthma triggers may range from child to child and may change over time. It is important to identify your child’s specific triggers so these irritants may be reduced or eliminated from their environment.
What foods should my child avoid eating?
- Stay away from dairy products. They stimulate mucus production which clogs up the lungs and airways.
- Select foods that do not contain any artificial colors, additives, or preservatives. Many of these substances have been linked to asthma attacks in children.
- Cold fluids irritate the airways, causing them to constrict and can trigger an asthma attack or coughing spell.
- Avoid eating frozen foods like ice cream since they cause the muscles in the airways to constrict.
- Reduce your intake of salt. Excessive salt consumption has been shown to aggravate asthma symptoms.
- Avoid eating junk food, candies, sugary soft drinks, and fried foods.
- It is reported that certain foods may trigger or aggravate asthma symptoms, for example peanuts. If this is the case for your child, an allergy elimination diet may be an appropriate option to take.
What are the signs of childhood asthma?
Asthma symptoms in children can include:
- Tightness of the chest
- Coughing, particularly at night or early in the morning
- Breathing issues including shortness of breath, fast breathing, or gasping for air
- Feeling exhausted
- Under-eye dark circles
- Being easily irritated
- Wheezing, which produces a whistling sound when they exhale
- Difficulties eating or sucking (in infants)
- Excessive sleeping
- Difficulty in participating in school activities and playing at the playground.
What are the treatments for childhood asthma?
There are several important areas to address when it comes to managing and treating asthma. These aspects include limiting allergy exposure, reducing sensitivity and stiffness of the lungs’ airways, balancing the body’s allergic/inflammatory pathways, and correcting nutrient imbalances.
Firstly, reducing allergic exposure is critical and highly effective in the management of asthma. This involves avoiding not only airborne allergens such as molds, pollens, animal dander, and dust, but also food allergens such as dairy, eggs, and wheat. This minimizes the irritants that your child is exposed to both internally and externally and will make a massive difference in how reactive their body is.
The first step in limiting exposure to airborne allergens is determining what is causing the individual to react. There are two primary methods for determining this: skin allergy testing (which an allergist can perform) and blood allergy testing (which can be done by most physicians). Once the allergic triggers have been identified, you should commit to a strategy for reducing exposure to those allergens.
Dust mites, for example, can be found in abundance in carpets and mattresses. To limit dust mite populations, these items can be removed, treated, or put inside a covering. Air filters can also be used to effectively remove allergens from the air. Both HEPA and ionizing air purifiers work great, but ionization machines should be carefully selected for low ozone output only.
Food allergies are frequently present in people with asthma, especially when the asthma is diagnosed at a young age. Dairy, eggs, wheat, gluten, citrus, peanuts, and chocolate are some of the most common allergens, although any food might be an allergy.
While most people associate food allergies with instant difficulties breathing after eating foods such as peanuts, a more typical sort of allergic reaction is delayed and more insidious in character. Most people who have this latter sort of allergy are often unaware that they are allergic and even more unaware that it’s the cause behind their asthma.
A blood test or an elimination diet can be used to properly detect food sensitivities. Once the allergic foods have been identified, they must be removed from the diet.
Reduced airway spasticity is another essential goal, which allows for a more relaxed and open throat and lungs. Magnesium is well known for its ability to relax muscles, including those that surround the lungs’ airways. Bronchodilators such as green tea and the natural remedy Lobelia can be very effective as well.
It is also critical to balance the body’s allergic and inflammatory pathways. This is done by removing all inflammatory irritants and adding healing treatments that address the root cause of the child’s allergic response. Omega-3 oils, which are found in fish and flax seeds, can help with this. According to one study, children who eat fish more than once a week had one-third the chance of developing asthma as those who do not consume fish on a regular basis. In addition, it’s vital to avoid tartrazine dyes (present in many artificial colorings), preservatives, aspirin, ibuprofen, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, as these compounds encourage the formation of leukotrienes, strong inflammatory molecules linked with asthma. Yes, you read that correctly. You may be thinking that it sounds completely backwards to have an anti-inflammatory medication that actually causes inflammation but it’s true (and is a great example of band-aid solutions versus root cause treatments)!
Additionally, vitamins C, B6, and B12, as well as the minerals selenium and molybdenum, are important in the treatment of asthma. These are helpful with boosting good gut bacteria and improving the overall microbiome. Many asthmatics do not create enough stomach acid, which can lead to food sensitivities and poor nutrient absorption. Taking hydrochloric acid supplements can also help treat this issue. According to a study, 80 percent of asthmatic toddlers create insufficient stomach acid. This is another factor that we don’t typically link with the presence of asthma but has been shown to be strongly correlated.
While many of the natural compounds listed above can be used on their own, the greatest benefit comes from a full treatment program that involves the use of specific herbs, nutrients, dietary changes, and allergen removal. This type of ‘Remove, Replace, Repopulate’ protocol can be highly effective in permanently healing long term symptoms that your child has been struggling with for months or even years.
Choose to Make a Change Today
With environment and diet being the reason for your child’s discomfort, these types of protocols can address these areas and begin to alleviate symptoms in as little as 30 days. If we make the appropriate modifications, we may be able to reverse your child’s persistent symptoms and sickness today rather than waiting for our children to (hopefully) ‘outgrow them’. These root-cause treatments address the reasons behind asthma attacks and can create permanent changes that heal your child from the inside out.
For parents like yourself, Dr. Nelli Gluzman has created a highly-effective 30 Days to Rescue Your Child’s Health masterclass that walks you through the process of permanently reversing your child’s asthma symptoms. Check this out if you are looking to make immediate, all-natural changes to your child’s overall health while healing their chronic symptoms as well.
Dr. Gluzman, or Doctor Mom, is the founder of Blossom Pediatrics and the Rescue Program, and is a mom, yogi, and lifelong learner, much like many of you. Her life’s work is to empower parents to treat their children’s asthma, allergies, and eczema. Blossom Pediatrics achieves this by addressing the underlying causes of these recurrent childhood diseases through holistic therapy.
Blossom Pediatrics has clinics in New York and New Jersey, which both offer in-person as well as virtual consultations and visits. As a small private practice, Dr. Gluzman works with you and your child as a fully involved participant in his or her health objectives. You and your child will never confront double booked appointments, crowded waiting rooms, or delays in service. This is the result of her compassionate, patient-centered approach… and her mission to make sure you and your loved ones never experience the feeling of just being a number. Send an email to DrGluzman@blossompediatrics.com now to inquire about your first private appointment or head to the 30 Day Rescue Course for more information on her transformational masterclass!
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