Author Archives: Jackie Aim

Smoking

Is your child exposed to smoking? If so how are they exposed?:

Active? Is your child smoking?
Passive? Is there someone at home who smokes when your child is in the house?
Friends? Are they being exposed to second hand smoke from their friends?
Family? Are they exposed to smoke when visiting other family?
Does your child like smoking?
Has your child tried E-cigarettes? Have they tried cannabis or other drugs?

What is the effect on asthmatic lungs?

Cigarette smoke is a trigger for your child’s asthma.
Smoking can reduce the effect of inhaled asthma medicine.
Long term effects of smoking are well known but short term effects of smoking include increased heart rate and blood pressure due to release of adrenalin. Nicotine causes the brain to release dopamine a chemical in the brain which creates an addictive response. The more you smoke the more short nicotine hits and the more addictive smoking becomes.
Cigarette smoke also contains thousands of chemicals, poisonous tar and gases. Many are know to cause cancers not only in the lung. Other parts of the body can be affected as the chemicals enter the blood supply.
The long term effects of using E-cigarettes is not yet known. They contain nicotine and are often flavoured to attract young users.

You can get help and advice for your teenager on how to stop smoking. This should be given to both the teenager and you, their family.

CHSS supports the Charter for a smoke free generation in Scotland by 2034 to protect young people and support positive health choices.

Alcohol

Around 45% teenagers will have tried alcohol at some time. The average age of a child’s first unsupervised drink of alcohol is 14 years old.

How does alcohol affect asthma?

Some people are allergic to additives in alcohol (ethanol, sulphites , histamine and egg or seafood proteins which can be used in the manufacturing process) If your teenager has food allergies they may be more susceptible to an asthma attack if these additives are present.

If teenagers and young people are regularly using alcohol they may be putting themselves at risk by not taking inhalers when they have been drinking.

Drinking also reduces inhibition and may lead to more risk taking behaviour. Recreational drugs, getting into a car when someone else has been drinking, unprotected sex, physical injury.

Anxiety

A person sitting on a park bench with her head in her hands. Expression of despair. Mental health and state of mind.

Not all teenagers with asthma will be anxious about their condition. However the years of adolescence can be associated with an increased risk of anxiety and sometimes panic attacks.

Abnormal or dysfunctional breathing can occur (link to section on breathlessness ) Specialist respiratory physiotherapy can help. Occasionally children are referred to a specialist respiratory physiotherapist who can help with abnormal or dysfunctional breathing if this has been identified as a problem .

Teenagers may be asked by the respiratory professional to complete a questionnaire to help the asthma team to identify those who may be at risk of anxiety.

If you are worried your child is struggling to cope or they are particularly anxious, speak to your health care professional as there is help available. Psychology input can be helpful for some children.

Life changes for your child

From teenage years to their twenties your child’s life changes significantly. They may have exams, leave school, start work, be unable to find work, start new relationships, become pregnant, travel or move away from home. All of these situations are different, some stressful others exciting but all are made easier if their asthma is being well controlled.

They don’t want to miss out but they may be embarrassed to take their inhalers when they are with their friends or when they meet new people. Most teenagers don’t want to be “fussed over” or attract unwanted attention to their asthma.

This can also be a time when they start taking more risks which could affect their asthma control. Drinking alcohol, smoking, taking drugs, an unhealthy diet, not getting enough sleep.

Where to get help

Family looking at a laptop computer

Extended family – grandparents, aunts and uncles, even close friends can all help to spend time with your other children when the asthmatic child is ill.

Social media – keep in touch with friends or other parents of children with asthma by using Twitter, Facebook or chat rooms such as Netmum’s. or Asthma UK has a discussion forum page on their website This helps you to share experience with others who know what it is like to have a child with asthma and helps prevent feelings of isolation.

Healthcare professionals may be able to put you in touch with local groups or individuals for support or help you to get help with finances and benefits.

Older children

Older children in the family:

May feel responsible for a younger child with asthma.
May resent having to watch out for the child with asthma.
May be overprotective of their brother/sister fearing an attack.
May be jealous of the attention the asthmatic child gets.
May be embarrassed by some of the asthma symptoms their brother/sister has (cough and sputum in particular).
May be frustrated if family plans have to be cancelled when the asthmatic child is unwell.
May resent the stigma of feeling different in front of their friends.

Taking time to understand and talk about some of the issues and feelings older children may have will let you know how they are coping with asthma in the family.

Encourage their friends to visit as children will often talk to friends about how they are really feeling to get support.

Self management

Teach older children who can understand, how to spot the early signs of an asthma attack so they can help if they are with the asthmatic child when they are feeling unwell. Keep written instructions at home so they know when and how many puffs of inhaler to give. Make sure they can contact you easily.

Younger children

Younger children in the family:

May not understand why their brother/sister is ill sometimes and well at other times. Especially around the time the child is first diagnosed.
They may be frightened that they will “get asthma too”.
Might be jealous of the attention the child with asthma gets from you and others.
May find it difficult to express their feelings about illness in the family.
They may fear their brother/sister will not get better. The may fear the worst unless you talk to them and explain in words they can understand.
They may not understand why they can’t have a pet if their bother/sister is allergic to animals.
Talk to your younger children to reassure them and answer any questions they have about asthma and their brother/sister.

Practical issues for parents

Take extra precautions to reduce risk from triggers – avoiding sprays, air fresheners, more frequent laundry, vacuuming, avoiding food allergy triggers.
Strain on finances – hospital and GP appointments, time off work when your child is ill, extra insurance when you go on holiday.
Planning and choices for the family – everyday events may need extra planning, sleepovers, holidays, outings.
Communicating with school – making sure your child has all the inhalers and medication they need when they are at school and that staff know how to contact you.
Trying to make some family time as often as you can.

Parents

Any parent of a child with asthma will go through times of stress or worry when your child is unwell. You may recognise some of the following feelings in yourself.

Anxiety -Constantly being aware and looking out for asthma symptoms or being frightened of a severe attack.
Fatigue – Especially if your child has night time symptoms or when you are trying to juggle home, children and work.
Sharing your time with other children – If you have other children who do not have asthma it can be difficult to make time for all of them when the child with asthma is unwell.
Trying to treat all your children the same – all your children will have different needs.
Being overprotective – limiting your child with asthma from normal childhood experiences.
No “me” time – for yourself or with your partner and friends.

Asthma in your family

You will know that when your child has asthma, the rest of the family may also be affected in some way and the whole family has to accept are living with the changes this may bring. Each family member can be affected in different ways.

As a parent you want to do the best for all the family but you will be affected too.

The following pages may give you ideas to think about and reflect on for your family. No family and no child is perfect all the time.