This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
Asthma


Taking medications and taking time to warm up and cool down can help to lessen EIA symptoms. Tak- ing a medication before activity/ strenuous activity — pretreatment — is often recommended for kids with EIA. Albuterol, a fast-acting medication taken 10 to 20 minutes before vigorous activity, is most often prescribed. Kids with persis- tent asthma also take albuterol as their quick-relief medication. Your child would inhale albuterol using a valved holding chamber or spacer.


How Medication Works Albuterol relaxes the muscles of the airways to keep them from becom- ing narrow. Your child would notice the strongest effect of albuterol about 30 minutes after she has taken it. The medication lasts about three to fi ve hours. If your child is involved in daily sports or vigorous activity requiring pretreatment, it may mean she needs an additional medication. She may develop a tolerance for albuterol with daily use, meaning her albuterol might not work as a pretreatment. If that is the case, your child’s health care provider might recommend a con- troller medication. Taken daily, controller medica-


tions help relax the airways. Some controller medications decrease infl ammation (swelling) in the air- ways, and work slowly over time. It may take days to weeks before your child feels the maximum effects of her controller medications. Two examples of controller medications are inhaled corticosteroids and leukotriene antagonists. Inhaled corticosteroids, also


called inhaled steroids, are inhal- ers your child would use with a valved holding chamber or spacer. Leukotriene antagonists are leu- kotriene modifi ers she would take in a chewable tablet or a pill form. Leukotriene modifi ers block the effect of leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are chemical messengers that play a role in increasing the infl amma- tion (swelling) in the airways.


Crucial Communication It’s important to let your child’s teachers and coaches know what they can do to help her. Teach- ers and parents are often cautious about having a child with EIA participate in sports or vigorous activities because of the fear of EIA symptoms. You may be required to complete a form allowing the ad- ministration of albuterol at school.


40


www.readysetgrowmag.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108