As many may be aware asthma is prevalent in North America. I myself was a sick child with uncontrolled asthma when I was younger. I was limited by my health and by the limited medical treatments that were available 30 years ago.

As science progressed and new medicines became available, my asthma symptoms improved and I was able to enjoy physical activity without ending up in the hospital. This is one of the reasons I decided to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist.

Being a mother of three young boys, and understanding the genetic component of asthma, I am always on the lookout for asthma symptoms in my children. Only a few months ago, my oldest son woke up one morning in moderate respiratory distress. We spent most of the day in the ER. Now we constantly wonder if that was a one off occurrence due to a cold or if this will become a chronic issue for him.

I have found that there can be a lot of misinformation about asthma out there. Especially, when it comes to the internet. That is why I wanted to share this link to the Asthma Society of Canada tips sheet which has a lot of good information about asthma in infants and young children.

http://www.asthma.ca/adults/control/pdf/Asthma_in_infants_and_young_children_tip_sheet.pdf

Please note: This post is not meant to replace professional medical advice. If you have questions or concerns about asthma, please talk to your family doctor. You can also ask to be referred to the asthma clinic at BC Children’s Hospital should you require.