What You Can Do for Your Child's Asthma?

May is Asthma awareness month. Asthma is increasingly common among children and teens. In fact, it's the most common serious chronic childhood disease. 1 in 13 school-aged children has asthma. Rates in children under five have increased more than 160% from 1980-1994!

Children are highly vulnerable to chemical toxicants. Pound for pound of body weight, children drink more water, eat more food, and breathe more air than adults. The implication of this is that children will have substantially heavier exposures than adults to any toxicants that are present in water, food or air.

An asthma attack is triggered by small particles in the air, things like mold, dust mites, secondhand smoke, pollen, bugs like cockroaches, even cats and dogs. Then there are common household cleaners which give off fumes that have been linked to increasing the risk of your kids developing asthma. (Read more about common household toxins.)

Asthma can't be cured, but it can be dramatically helped by getting rid of triggers that can lead to an asthma attack. Here are a few smart things you can do.

1. Change out your everyday toxic household cleaners to a line of natural, nontoxic, cleaners. Purchase a starter kit to get started.
2. Don't smoke in your home or car. Don't let anyone smoke near your child.
3. Keep cockroaches away by keeping counters, sinks, tables and floors clean. Cover trashcans and store food in airtight containers.
4. Keep pets outside if possible, or if you have a pet inside, try to keep them out of the child's bedroom and off the furniture.
5. Keep dust mites down by washing bed sheets and blankets weekly, vacuum carpets, rugs and furniture often, and washed stuff toys regularly and dry completely. You may want to consider removing carpets in favor of hard surfaces.
   
6. Get children on a good nutrition program. Lots of children with asthma and allergies have responded well to this nutritional regimen:
• quality children's multivitamin
  
• nutritious protein shakes. (Here are some fun and delicious ways to add children’s health products to your children's diet! Start their day with a healthy and refreshing smoothie.)
  
• additional vitamin C
  
• carotenoids
• alfalfa
  
• maintain a healthy digestive balance with probiotics
  
• natural immune system booster
  
7. Consider purchasing an air purifier to dramatically reduce, mold, dust mites, pollen, smoke and particulates and other indoor irritants from the air your child breathes. Although this air purifier cleans the air in your home up to 3000 sq feet, it's small enough to be carried anywhere in your home. So when you first get the unit place it on a table or dresser near your child's bed. Remove all coverings, sheets and pillowcases, and let it treat the food source of dust mites! Do the same in the bathroom, basement or garage to get rid of mold and mildew. Contact us for more information on this amazing air cleaner.

You are not powerless against asthma! Act now to provide a safe, healthy environment for your child. Build his body and immune system.