Dr. Caron wrote this wonderful article on childhood asthma. As a child growing up with asthma I could relate to everythign she said. I had some pretty bad episodes, some that landed me in the hospital emergency ward and a couple where I was admitted. An attack can be a very stressful and scary time for your child, it is very important that the adult remains calm so as not to make the situation even worse. ~ Kevin ~
Stressing Out Over Asthma by Dr. Caron B. Goode
Asthma attacks are stressful. They start innocently enough with a slight wheeze or a little cough. Then it is all downhill from there. First, the asthmatic feels his chest tighten and is unable to breathe. This justifiably produces feelings of panic, anxiety, and helplessness. These emotions escalate with the episode, which in turn perpetuates and lengthens the attack cycle.
As if an attack is not bad enough, this scenario can be easily repeated at the drop of a hat. The cells in our bodies have many functions, one of which is to store memory. During asthmatic episodes, they record the emotional trauma and intensity of the attack. This is so the body can be prepared should it face the situation again. Even though this sounds like a solid plan, it actually ensures that just thinking about an episode can trigger one.
