Asthma Archives

October 28, 2013August 12, 2021

PrimaLoft Down Alternative Comforters

We are pleased to announce that we have added the Primaloft Down Alternative Comforter manufactured by Downlite to the Allergy Store. If you love the feel and warmth of down but have allergies this is a comforter worth looking at.

Made in the USA these soft and comfortable “hotel comforters” can be machine washed and dried over and over for many years without
loosing that fluffy look.

You can can get all the details on the comforters here.

Wishing you the best of health
Mike

Allergy Store – Helping customers since 1989

August 30, 2012November 3, 2022

Discover How to Explain Asthma to Your Child

You suspected something was wrong. You looked at the 10 Signs you May Have Asthma and made an appointment with the doctor for your child. Now, you just left the doctor’s office knowing for sure why your young son has been coughing and wheezing all this time. It is not an infection. It is asthma. Now you must explain asthma to your child.

Before you can explain asthma to your child, you must do your homework. First, you must learn everything you can about asthma;

what it is,
what causes it,
what are your child’s triggers,
what to avoid
and how to treat it.

Your world just got a bit more complicated.

What do you need to cover when you explain asthma to your child? Explain asthma to your 8-year-old son in terms he can understand. Explain that he now has to take medicine, and use inhalers and peak flow meters. Let him know these are helpers to keep him healthy. Assure him that he will get comfortable with a mask put over his mouth for breathing treatments. Hard stuff for an adult to deal with much less an 8-year-old.

This is how some of our customers have handled explaining asthma to a child.

Be honest. Let them know that asthma is serious but with some work, they will be able to still have lots of fun. There will just be some new rules to follow. When they ask what asthma is keep it simple. “Asthma makes it hard for you to breath sometimes” The best example if you have to explain asthma to a child is an experience from their own life. Remind them of a time they had difficulty breathing. Get into more detail when they can understand it.

Teach them their triggers and asthma symptoms. Let them know they will need to be more careful and pay attention to their surroundings. Your child needs to understand the signs of an asthma attack and what to do if they have a hard time breathing. “Find mom or dad, your teacher or another adult if you don’t feel good”.

Keep them involved. Make a game out of filling out the peak flow meter charts. If one of their triggers is pollen, teach them what pollen is and where it comes from. If weather changes trigger your child’s asthma, watch the Weather Channel and learn about cold fronts. Great time to teach them about keeping a daily journal.

Asthma is a lifelong condition but it does not necessarily mean they can’t do the things they like to. They and you just need to be careful.

Wishing you the best of health

Mike Krause

The Allergy Store

May 3, 2012July 11, 2014

Chronic Cough? May Be Allergies

Coughing is a natural function of a healthy body. It is your body’s way of clearing secretions and particles that you might have inhaled. By clearing the lungs and respiratory system, the cough is intended to help your boy fight off infection by evil invaders. But a chronic cough is not natural.

But what if you get a cough and it doesn’t go away? A cough will generally be considered “chronic” after 8 weeks of coughing with no relief. The most common causes of a chronic cough are post nasal drip and allergic asthma. Less common causes can be acid reflux, chronic bronchitis, and the use of ACE inhibitors.

If you have a cough that doesn’t seem to go away, track your symptoms and you will be more prepared to discuss it with your doctor. For instance, does the cough come on at night? Is it only when you are lying down at night and doesn’t occur if you sit up in bed? These are the kinds of things that can help your doctor determine if the cause is allergic asthma (such as from dust mites) or acid reflux. Also, note the foods you are consuming. Be sure to tell your doctor about any medications you are taking. My brother is one of the approximately 20% of people that develop a chronic cough as a result of ACE inhibitors prescribed to control high blood pressure. His doctor changed his medication and the cough disappeared!

If a cold lingers, the post nasal drip can lead to a chronic cough. The constant secretions can irritate the throat and cause a cough. However, this can also mask a cough due to asthma, as it can be triggered by a respiratory infection such as a cold. Cough due to asthma may or may not be in conjunction with wheezing.

If you have allergic asthma or environmental allergies and your cough re-appears, it might be a good time to see if there have been any changes in the home environment. Aside from the obvious, such as the addition of a new pet, did you change pillows, blankets or comforters? Many people are under the impression that if their bedding is new it can’t harbor allergens. Please don’t be in the ranks of the uninformed. Any pillow, duvet, or mattress that you buy new can already contain allergens. That is why it is important to cover your mattress, boxspring, pillow, etc with dust mite proof covers from day one.

So, if you have a cough that lingers, begin to pay attention and take notes. If you need to see your doctor, your careful notes will help your doctor make good use of their diagnostic time.

Til Next Time!

Cheryl
The Allergy Store