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ELEVATE YOUR

1As0thm1a

Imagine that you’re running a marathon, but instead of breathing freely, you’re forced to
breathe through a straw. No matter how hard you try, you aren’t able to get the amount of
fresh air you need to fill your lungs. That’s the reality of what an asthma attack feels like for
roughly 25 million people in America who live with the condition.

ASTHMA IS A chronic health issue that causes inflammation CHILDHOOD ASTHMA
of the airways. During an asthma attack, a substance or action
triggers the airways to swell, leading to shortness of breath, You’re checking on your child at night when you hear something
wheezing, coughing and chest tightness. While asthma attacks startling. Instead of soft breathing, you hear a high-pitched,
can be mild or severe, they all have several things in common— whistle-like sound. That’s called wheezing, and it’s one of the
they can be uncomfortable, terrifying and even life-threatening. most common symptoms of asthma in kids.
If you or your child has asthma, it’s critical to work with a
physician to get the condition under control. “Children with asthma wheeze because their lungs are
obstructed,” says Cynthia Loudin, DNP, NP-C, APRN, pediatric
“Patient education is the most important component nurse practitioner at Beverly Knight Olson Children’s
of asthma treatment, and anyone with asthma should Hospital, Navicent Health. “The other big symptom is a cough,
be able to identify that they’re having an asthma attack and one thing that people don’t realize is that coughing at
and know what to do,” says Muhammad Suhaib Khan, night—especially if it lingers longer than a typical cold—
MD, MPH, pulmonary critical care physician at Navicent could be asthma. Other symptoms are difficulty breathing
Health. “A provider will help patients develop an asthma and chest pain.”
action plan—a personalized document that outlines extra
precautions patients should take, provides medication If you see or hear these symptoms in younger children, or if
education and tells them when to seek medical attention if your older child mentions asthma-like symptoms, it’s time to see a
their medications aren’t working.” provider.The provider can perform lung function tests to determine if
asthma is present and then offer guidance that will help children and
their parents learn to manage the condition.

4 navicenthealth.org | SUMMER 2020