* Asthma is present in about 10% of children.

* Asthma in children is diagnosed when your child has recurring episodes of wheezing that are relieved by rescue medicine such as albuterol

* Asthma in children is treated with the same medicines and treatment plans as in adults with adjustments for their size and metabolism.

Children have a lot more wheezing than adults.

A simple upper respiratory infection or common cold causes many children to wheeze.

But, a single episode of wheezing while ill doesn’t mean a child has asthma.  A key feature of asthma is the recurrence of wheezing, along with its reversibility by a bronchodilator/inhaler like albuterol.

How many children who wheeze when sick go on to have recurrent wheezing and asthma?  We don’t know for sure.  But we do know that infection with the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) early in childhood is associated with the appearance of asthma.

The bottom line: asthma in children is a very big problem.

In 2016, about 6 million children were diagnosed with asthma.  That makes it  the most common chronic disease of childhood.

Untreated, asthma in children threatens them with death, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and school absenteeism.

Childhood asthma is treated with the same medications and strategies as in adults. Since they are kids there are adjustments in medication dosage, and some differences in severity classification.

Unfortunately, like adults, children are often not treated according to the National standard of care.

Asthmaniac is designed to serve them as well.

At Asthmaniac, pediatric expertise is always on-deck to make sure our approach to children with asthma is aligned with National standards.

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WE ALL DO!

What does “affordable” mean?

It could be what you pay out-of-pocket before you have met your deductable (assuming you have health insurance).

Or,

If you don’t have health insurance, you probably think of affordability in the following ways:

… what it costs to go to the ER (thousands?!!),

… what it costs to see a regular doctor (assuming you can find one that will give you an appointment, around $150)

…  what it costs to go to an urgent care (around $150).

Well, I can do better than that.  I keep my per visit price to nearly half of an urgent care or regular office visit. 

With Asthmaniac, it is all online/on-the-phone, and all about asthma.  

If you are looking for top quality asthma care at an unbeatable price with back-pocket convenience, Asthmaniac is your ‘clinic’!

As with other chronic diseases, affordability is important for Asthma Control

* The cost of asthma control can be a barrier:

* Many costs of asthma care can exceed what those without insurance can afford.  These include:

* The cost of asthma medication.

* The cost of doctor visits

* The cost pulmonary function testing.

I endeavor to keep my consults to you AFFORDABLE.

And, I am constantly looking for the best way to get you medication that fits your budget. 

 I am committed to designing a method that asthma patients can actually afford to use.

A method that keeps them breathing deeply, sleeping soundly, and striding through their days with new confidence in managing their asthma.

Asthmaniac is that method.

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#asthmaactionplan
#asthmacontroltest
#asthmacontroller
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#childrenandasthma
#eprescription
#easthma
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#asthmaniac

Triggers for wheezing (bronchoconstriction) include:

* Pollen

* Dust Mites

* Cockroaches

* Mold

* Pet dander

* Tobacco Smoke

To prevent wheezing, you need to avoid these triggers.

If avoiding them isn’t possible, I can prescribe medicine suppresses the effect of triggers.

As you have learned, asthma symptoms occur when the breathing tubes or bronchi, clench down.  

This is called bronchoconstriction.

Bronchoconstriction blocks the flow of air to your lungs, creating labored breathing, shortness of breath, and chest pain..

In most patients with asthma, this bronchoconstriction is ‘triggered’ by something outside of your body.  

Quite often, this ‘something’ is a breathable, microscopic particle.  When these particles land in your airways, they launch an allergic reaction in your airways.

These particles are called allergens.

There are a number of natural and man-made allergens that can trigger wheezing and asthma attacks.

Pollen from trees and plants that you inhale is one of the most common and difficult to avoid when you are outside.

The most problematic indoor allergen is dust mites.  These microscopic white insects eat the dead skin cells we humans shed.  These skin cells build up in carpet, upholstery, and bedding and sure enough, that’s where the mites will be.

Bronchoconstriction is triggered when microscopic parts of mite skeletons and mite fecal droppings are inhaled. 

Cockroaches are another big problem for asthma patients.

Cockroach fecal droppings can be inhaled in the same way as dust mites, leading to bronchoconstriction.

Another indoor allergen is mold .  A mold grows, microscopic spores are released and can be inhaled.  In some patients with asthma, these spores can trigger wheezing.

Some of our favorite pet companions can trigger wheezing.  The hair fiber of dogs and cats is composed of microscopic flakes called dander.

Dander is a powerful allergen in some people. 

Fortunately for us and them, bathing dogs and cats weekly dramatically reduces how much dander they release.

It comes as no surprise that Tobacco smoke is a powerful trigger of bronchospasm.

With short-term inhalation, tobacco smoke irritates the lining of the bronchi causing bronchospasm.  

With repeated inhalation, permanent damage occurs to the lungs, leading to emphysema and lung failure.

Other irritants that can trigger bronchospasm include: wood smoke from wood stoves, heaters and fireplaces, and, 

strong chemical odors released from perfumes, solvents and paint.

My Strategy for Handling Triggers

Every patient has a unique response to triggers.

Usually, the most powerful trigger can be identified by you through past experience .  

The most important thing you can do to limit these trigger effects is to avoid the source of the trigger.  

While this sounds simple, it can be difficult to achieve in daily life.  

There are specific strategies that I will recommend for trigger avoidance.

But, when avoiding the trigger is not possible, I will prescribe medicine designed to help your airways resist bronchospasm from inhaled triggers.

As you can see, controlling triggers is a really important part of keeping your asthma controlled.

#asthmacontrolnow
#telemedicineasthmacare
#backpocketasthmadoc
#asthmaactionplan
#asthmacontroltest
#asthmacontroller
#rescueinhaler
#asthmacovid19
#childrenandasthma
#eprescription
#easthma
#peakexpiratoryflow
#peakflowmeter
#asthmaniac