Asthma: What Can I Do To Reduce My Child's Need For Medication?

Asthma: What Can I Do To Reduce My Child’s Need For Medication?

McKenzie Pediatrics

2018

• Dust control is crucial. Even if your child is not allergic to dust mites, the dust itself can cause inflammation in the lungs. Launder your child’s bedding (including pillowcase and comforter) weekly in HOT water. Limit or avoid dust collectors in their bed, such as pillow pets and stuffed animals. Vacuum their bedroom floor with a HEPA-filter vacuum cleaner at least weekly.

• Animal dander control is also crucial. Even if your child is not allergic to cats or dogs, keep pets out of your asthmatic child’s bed. And, again, vacuum their bedroom floor (and throughout the home) at least weekly if you have pets. Pets allowed outside can also bring pollen into the bed and onto the floor by way of their fur.

• Do your best to reduce mold spores in your home. If your home is often damp or humid, run a dehumidifier regularly, and open the windows (except during the worst of the grass pollen season, from mid-May to mid-June) to air out your home often.

• If your child has pollen allergies, have them shower and change clothing as soon as they come in from playing outside, or when home from school.

• A vegan diet is associated BY FAR with the lowest rates of asthma, but it’s not for everyone. Try to at least limit your child’s intake of eggs, chicken, and milk during the worst times of allergy season. And increase your child’s intake of fresh fruits and vegetables to between 5 and 9 servings per day.

• Lycopene-rich foods are awesome in helping to reduce asthma symptoms. Watermelon, cooked tomatoes, sweet peppers, papayas, mangoes, grapefruit, and cooked carrots and asparagus are a few good sources.

• Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables are fantastic and providing detoxifying enzymes to help combat inflammation caused by irritants (such as dust and mold and dander), and air pollutants.

• Give your child a Vitamin C and a Vitamin D supplement every day during allergy season, or even every day of the year.
• Lactobacillus probiotics are helpful, too, but better is to just eat lots more fruits and vegetables to get these helpful bacteria.
• Avoid aerosol sprays (such as cleaners and room deodorizers) around your child.