The Breath’n Easy BuzzFrom Heritage Valley Health System’s Community Health Services Pediatric Asthma Program

Spring is here!

Spring is here! What comes to your mind when you think of spring? Many would imagine flowers blooming, longer days of sunshine, rainstorms followed by rainbows, and more time for playing in the open green fields.

A common cause for children admissions to

By Apeksha Patel, MD

Breath’n Easy Buzz Spring 2019heritagevalley.org | Download our App

the hospital during spring is an asthma flare-up. This is due to increased pollen and other allergens in the air. Some common signs and symptoms to look out for include: • shortness of breath • wheezing • coughing

To prevent an asthma flare-up or hospital admission, visit the doctor to write out an asthma action plan. People with written asthma action plans have better asthma control, fewer attacks and less days off school or work. Make sure the school nurse has an emergency contact number and the asthma action plan with all medications listed.

Another reason to contact your doctor would be using the rescue inhaler more than once every four hours or more than two times per week.

When possible, avoid these common asthma triggers, such as an upper viral respiratory infection, dust, mold, pollen, pets, cigarette smoke, air pollution, cold temperatures, and stress.

Spring is a fun time of year – be it rain or shine – follow the asthma action plan and stay healthy as well!

Did You Know?Pollen tends to be highest early in the day and is at its worst during warm, dry, breezy days.

• breathing fast• nasal flaring• gasping for air

Announcements:

Spring Tips to Avoid Allergy Flare-ups • On high pollution or high pollen days avoid outdoor exercise. When there are lots of triggers in the air, stay indoors. To check the daily pollen count in your area, go to www.pollen.com. • If possible, use your air conditioner to filter and circulate the air in your home. • Keep pollen and pollution outside by closing windows and doors. • Shower and wash your hair when you come home in the evening. This helps keep pollens and pollution from rubbing off onto the bed, where it could cause asthma symptoms.

Spring Allergies?When you are allergic to pollen, your immune system sees it as something alien which causes the immune system to respond to the foreign invader. This hyper response causes sneezing, watery eyes, itching, nasal congestion, and coughing.

Spring Tip: If you have spring allergies – start your medications early. In Western Pennsylvania tree pollen starts flying around by the end of February and the beginning of March when it warms up enough for trees to begin budding.

Common Spring Allergies to watch for each month are: • February – Tree pollen starts • March – Weeds and grass • April – Tree pollen peaks

Ask Our Nurse: VickiQ: What are some common signs and symptoms of allergies?A: Common symptoms are: • stuffy or runny nose with clear drainage • sneezing • itchy eyes and nose

• sore throat and/or throat clearing • coughing that may be worse at night and in the morning • swelling around the eyes and/or dark circles under the eyes A common sign that you may see in children is the allergic salute. This is when children rub their nose upward. This is usually because the nose is itchy. Another common sign is called allergic shiners, which are dark circles under the eyes and this is caused by nasal congestion.

Uncontrolled allergies can put children at risk for: sinus infections, ear infections, and poor concentration at school. It can also make asthma symptoms worse.

Q: What are some goals for good asthma control?A: The goals of parents and physicians are to: • control the child’s asthma • make sure the child can lead a normal life

“Normal” can mean that the child sleeps through the night without coughing, does not miss school, can participate in sports and enjoy fun activities.

Since our program began in 1998, we have enrolled over 2,000 children into our program. Our main goal is to educate the child and parent on managing their asthma and preventing acute episodes.

Many of our patients have written articles about living with asthma and being able to participate in various sports and school activities. These success stories help other children realize that having asthma should not make them different from other students.

If anyone would like to write an article, please let us know!

Mold in the SpringMold can cause allergy symptoms. Going outdoors in the spring means you may come in contact with mold spores that grow in warm, moist weather. It grows on grass, leaves, and in the soil. Indoor molds grow in damp basements, bathrooms, and kitchens any time of the year which may trigger allergy symptoms.

Did You Know?Your lungs can breathe in and out as many as 22,000 times a day without you even thinking about it.

• The actual job of breathing is done mainly by the diaphragm

• These muscles contract when you breathe in, and expand when you breathe out

• Pollen is one of the most common asthma triggers

• May – Tree and grass• June – Grass pollen peaks

Word SearchFind the following words that relate to mold:Mold Water Leak Spores HumidityMoisture Allergy Damp Mildew

Do You Know?White House FactsQ: How many rooms are in the White House?A: 132 rooms

Q: How many bathrooms are in the White House?A: 32 bathrooms

Q: How many elevators are in the White House?A: 3 elevators

Q: Who was the first President to ride on a train?A: Andrew Jackson

Q: Who was the first President to ride in an automobile?A: Teddy Roosevelt

Q: Who was the first President to get married in the White House?A: Grover Cleveland

Joke of the DayQ: If you plant kisses in your garden what would you get?A: Tulips

Q: What part of the human body when laid end to end would reach around the world?A: 60,000 miles of blood vessels

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Heritage Valley Health System • Breath ‘n Easy • 3 Peartree Way - Beaver, PA 15009 • 866-328-8389 Option 4