DG p14-15 Asthma Jul09.qxp 24/06/2009 14:17 Page 14
health
Coping with
asthma
It can be a real shock to discover that your child has asthma, as it was for First Link editor (and
father!) Antony Begley. But it needn’t mean that your child’s life needs to be any less active or
full, with just a little help.
So, your child has asthma? You’re not narrower and the lining of the airways out the dust, dirt and allergens that
alone – over 1.1 million children (that’s becomes inflamed and starts to swell. have collected over the colder and
one in 11 children) have asthma in the Sometimes sticky mucus or phlegm damper winter and spring months.
UK. But don’t worry. With a little help builds up which can further narrow the Asthma UK, the official body for
there’s no reason why sufferers can’t airways. asthma suffers offers the following safe
live a perfectly normal, fun, active life. All these reactions cause the airways cleaning tips to help people with
There are highly effective medicines and to become narrower and irritated – asthma to rid their homes of some
treatments, good advice abounds on making it difficult to breath and leading common indoor triggers.
how to manage your child’s symptoms to symptoms of asthma.
and there’s even dedicated ‘Kick But remember: 5.4m people in the Clear out old belongings
Asthma’ adventure holidays for children UK are currently receiving treatment for Recycling old belongings and
with asthma – and lots more. asthma and of these, some 1.1m are collectables, or donating them to
So what exactly is asthma? Well, it is children. In Scotland, more than charity will cut down on dust
a condition that affects the airways – 370,000 people suffer from asthma. throughout the house, making cleaning
the small tubes that carry air in and out There is a person with asthma in one in easier. Items that fit tidily into closets
of the lungs. When a person with five households in the UK. and drawers can be hidden neatly away
asthma comes into contact with So what can you do as a parent of a so that they will not gather as much
something that irritates their airways child with asthma? There are lots of dust. A clutter-free environment is
(known as an asthma trigger), the easy steps you can take to make life easier to clean – and easier to keep
muscles around the walls of the airways easier for your child. Summer is a great clean.
tighten so that the airways become time to clear out the clutter and clean
Dust everything!
Dust may have collected during the
winter months so now is the perfect
time to move aside furniture in order to
reach every nook and cranny. Rarely
vacuumed spots may not look dirty, but
dust will have collected in the corners
of rooms. Window blinds and curtains
can also be dust traps so it is important
to clean them thoroughly.
Dot Russell, asthma nurse specialist
on the Asthma UK Adviceline, says: “If
you know house-dust mites trigger your
asthma, you may be able to reduce
some symptoms by damp-dusting all
surfaces and vacuuming all areas
frequently using a vacuum cleaner with
good suction and a filtered exhaust.
The filter on vacuum cleaners should be
changed regularly and you may need to
ask someone else to empty the
machine.”
Dot adds: “Even though you may be
cleaning to help your asthma, take care
14 first link magazine | Dumfries and Galloway
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