Adolescent Asthma: Managing Symptoms and Triggers

Dr. Jeff Couchman, Dr. Nicole Abdy, and Dr. Susan McMahon see patients daily at Mesquite Pediatrics in Tucson, AZ, for various diseases and illnesses, including asthma. Our three experienced, skilled, licensed pediatric doctors are wholly devoted to high-quality child healthcare. They are here today to discuss bronchospasms in children.

Explaining Bronchospasms

Chronic inflammation of the lungs can cause lifelong breathing problems for children. When inflammation occurs in the lining of the lungs' airways, breathing becomes difficult. According to the CDC, this condition affects your child's lungs and the ability to pass enough oxygen through the lungs. Bronchospasms are children's most common chronic condition when allergens attack their bodies.

Different types of bronchospasms include allergic/non-allergic/occupational/exercise-induced/aspirin-induced/nocturnal/and cough-variant. Your child may experience the following symptoms during a bronchospasm attack. 

These attacks can happen at any time and anywhere and can wake your child up out of a sound sleep. Your child can ease these symptoms and bring their breathing under control by breathing in a rescue inhaler.

• Wheezing 
• Shortness of breath
• Chest tightness
• Excessive coughing 
• May become anxious
• Inability to talk
• Fatigue
• Complaints of chest pain
• Insomnia
• Rapid breathing

Severe symptoms mean you call 9-1-1 immediately.

• Severe inability to breathe
• Gasping for air
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Blue tint to nail beds and lips
• Difficulty walking

Mesquite Pediatrics in Tucson, AZ, explains that there is an unlimited list of things that can cause an asthma attack, such as environmental things, odors, the weather, exercise, excitement, anxiety, fright, medicine, food, pet dander, dust, pollens, and the list is endless. Genetics, viral infections, and hygiene also play a part in attacks.

The ideal thing to do is remove the triggers that cause the attack if you know the triggers. However, you usually don't know what caused the attack, and it becomes a matter of deduction.

We base treatment on the type of bronchospasm and whether it is intermittent, mildly persistent, moderately persistent, or severely persistent. Options for treatment include quick-relief medications, long-term control medications, or a combination of both.

Our goal is to incorporate a prevention and management plan for your child by avoiding triggers, reducing exposure to allergens, getting allergy testing and allergy shots, prescribing preventive medication, eating healthily, maintaining a suitable weight, avoiding smoke, exercising, and ensuring your child lives in a stress-free environment.

We Can Manage Bronchospasms

If you seek quality pediatric care for your child, call Dr. Couchman, Dr. McMahon, and Dr. Abdy today at (520) 648-5437 at Mesquite Pediatrics in Tucson, AZ, and schedule an appointment for asthma control.

We will help manage this condition so your child can live their life to the fullest and not miss out on the excitement of being a child.