Asthma Attacks

Breathing is an action that we "normally" never have to think about, our body unconsciously does the job for us. As we breathe in through either our nose or mouth the air travels down our airways into our lungs where oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is exhaled and oxygen is picked up from the lungs and delivered to the body.

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that is characterized by inflammation of the airways, mucous production, and narrowing of the airways. This can cause wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing. Coughing is usually worse at night and early morning. Approximately 1 to 2 out of every 10 kids have asthma. Things that cause asthma flare ups or attacks are called "triggers." Triggers vary from person to person but common triggers include: cigarette smoke, dust, mold, cold weather, being sick, stress, air pollutants, perfume, pollen, exercise, and pet dander.

The best way to avoid asthma attacks or flare ups is to avoid your child's known triggers. For example if you notice that when the vog from the Big Island passes through your child starts to wheeze and chest gets tight, that is an example of a trigger and you should have your child stay indoors to avoid that trigger. Not every kid's asthma is the same and what may work for one child may not work for another. There are multiple medicines utilized to manage asthma and to prevent flareups. Some kids only need to take medicine (rescue medicine such as albuterol puffer) when they feel their chest tightening or they start to wheeze. Other children may need to take daily medications (controller medications such as advair) to prevent asthma flareups from happening. If your child has asthma you should have an asthma plan created for your child by your health care provider. This plan allows you to identify triggers and symptoms of your child's asthma and what steps to take to alleviate them. The goal with asthma is always the same no matter the medication or action plan, to prevent flareups. 

Asthma at school is tough topic because a lot of kids only need to take their rescue medicines a few times a year. Many parents don't see the need to either let the school know their child has asthma or provide the school with the appropriate medications because it happens so seldom. We run into problems when children come to the health room complaining of chest tightness and wheezing but no rescue medications are stored on campus. Not many things are scarier not only to the child but to staff as well, than a child who is struggling to breathe. We try to identify all those who have asthma to create an action plan in the event that your child comes to the health room with these symptoms. By having an action plan in place, our staff is better prepared to keep your child safe in the event of an asthma attack. 

ACTIVITY

To simulate the narrowing of the airways that occurs during an asthma attack we will attempt to breathe normally using various apparatuses. You will need a snorkel, a regular straw, and a coffee stirrer. To begin make sure you are seated and have adult supervision. Next take a few nice deep breaths. Then grab the snorkel and only using the snorkel take deep breaths, trying to breathe normally. After 5 to 10 breaths through the snorkel, relax and catch your breath and when ready do the same with the straw and lastly the coffee stirrer. You should notice the difficulty increase as the diameter of the apparatuses get smaller. This is what asthmatics experience during an attack and if rescue medications aren't administered in a timely manner they could go into respiratory distress.

GAMES click on links for educational asthma games
Quest for the code

Lungtropolis

Buster Baxter Lung Defender