Asthma is a common childhood condition that makes it hard to move air in and out of the lungs. The providers at Town Center Pediatrics in Northborough, Massachusetts, have the skills and experience needed to diagnose and treat childhood asthma so they can begin a path toward easier breathing. Call to schedule an appointment.
Asthma is a chronic health issue characterized by breathing difficulties. The condition often develops in childhood, and it can make it hard for kids to enjoy normal daily activities.
People with asthma have narrowed airways, which limits the flow of air into and out of their lungs. Those inflamed airways become even more sensitive to certain environmental triggers, which further complicates matters.
According to statistics compiled by the American Lung Association, as many as 6.1 million children under the age of 18 are living with asthma.
Researchers are not sure of the exact cause of asthma. There is clear evidence of a link between the body’s immune response and asthma, and it appears that the condition can develop when an individual breathes in a substance that triggers a strong inflammatory reaction.
Once your immune system mistakenly identifies a normal substance as potentially dangerous, that immune reaction will continue each time you’re exposed to that substance. This can make it difficult to breathe normally both during physical exertion as well as while simply going through normal daily routines.
Some researchers believe that asthma develops when a child is exposed to airborne allergens during childhood when their lungs are still developing. A viral infection during childhood can also lead to asthma.
There is no cure for asthma, but with proper treatment, your child can breathe easier and enjoy an active, healthy lifestyle. When you come in for a diagnostic exam your provider will assess your child’s breathing function and overall health. You’ll discuss what kinds of symptoms you and your child have noticed as well as the circumstances in which they arise.
There are many medications that can help treat asthma. Some work instantly to open inflamed airways and are carried with your child in case an asthma attack occurs. Others work over the long term to improve breathing function and reduce the risk of asthma attacks.
It can take a process of trial and error to find the right balance of medication for your child’s unique needs. Parents play an active role in the process by letting their provider know how drug therapy seems to be working and if and when symptoms return.