Asthma can be a scary disease. This is especially true if you’re a child with asthma or your child has asthma. Not being able to breathe, gasping for breath and the fear that comes with it is nothing to take lightly. Children with asthma aren’t always able to do the same things other children do for fear they’ll have an asthma attack. Asthma attacks in children are life threatening and need to be taken seriously.

The rate of asthma today has reached unprecedented levels. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in the United States 7 million children have asthma. That’s 9.4% of the youth in America suffering with this life threatening condition.

Asthma is a long-term, chronic condition that is often triggered by an allergic reaction or a reaction to stress, emotional situations, exercise, and cold air are other triggers. When this occurs the airways in the lungs become constricted and narrow. This inflammation compromises the body’s ability to get air and is heard as wheezing, coughing, gasping for breath, and other similar symptoms.

Developing an Asthma Action Plan

If you or your child has asthma it’s vital to have a plan of action to control your asthma on a long term basis. The plan should also include how to handle an asthma attack for your children with asthma. This plan should be shared with all of your children’s caregivers.

The asthma action plan for your children with asthma should be constructed with the help of your doctor who should know what the best medicines are for your or your child’s specific case of asthma.

Asthma can vary in case to case; some severe, some moderate, and still some very mild. This is where your doctor will be essential in guiding you to the right medications to treat your children with asthma.

The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute offers an online downloadable form to help you develop a plan of action for your children with asthma.

Asthma Triggers to Avoid

When a child has asthma they may or may not be aware of the potential triggers that could cause them an asthma attack. And while not all cases of asthma are the same there are several triggers that seem to be constant for most asthma sufferers, particularly children with asthma.

Asthma Triggers to Avoid:

o Pet hair, fur, or feathers (dander is the culprit in these)

o Dust mites (encase bedding in allergen friendly covers, dust, wash, and replace linens regularly)

o Cockroaches (the fecal matter of these insects cause problems)

o Mold (both indoor and outdoor)

o Pollen

o Smoke (tobacco and other)

o Cold air

o Sprays (particularly strong smelling ones)

o Medications

Keep track of what triggers asthma in your child with asthma. This may take a bit of time and research but stick to it and you’ll soon know exactly what to avoid to decrease your child’s asthma and increase their quality of life.

Today there are many options for children with asthma. Many of the asthma cases in children can be properly controlled so they can lead normal lives.

Vitamins by definition are substances essential for our body. They are required by every individual to help the body function properly. For children, who are in their growing stage, vitamins are extremely beneficial.  Vitamins for children are necessary as they need for them for their bodies to grow and work properly. Childrens vitamin intake should consist of a well defined proportion of multi-vitamins, as each vitamin fulfills certain functions. According to research, childrens’ multi-vitamin dose for each day should consist of 20-25% vitamins.

Children of all ages, be they newborns or school going kids, require vitamins in appropriate proportions Infants also need childrens vitamin supplements. Vitamins for children are needed for body growth, healthy vision and the connection of tissues. However, the fast food culture has shifted children from nutritious food to processed food.

Natural Children’s Vitamins

With a significant number of Childrens vitamins available, it is difficult to see which ones are natural and which ones are synthetic. Natural children vitamins indicate children vitamins which are derived directly from plants or other materials, and vitamins from manufacturers which produce natural vitamins. The main aim of Natural Childrens vitamins is to avoid artificial colors and sweeteners to the max.  Thus, they contain no toxic solvents or sugar coatings. Instead, these childrens vitamins contain co-factors that come with nutrients in nature.

Childrens Liquid Vitamin

Childrens Liquid Vitamin is another way of providing vitamins for children, especially for those who are reluctant to take pills. This type of childrens multi-vitamin supplement is ideal for children as it is natural and contains no Aspartame which can cause problems for children. Plus, it is designed to meet all the requirements and needs of children by combining a balanced ratio of vitamins and minerals. This liquid vitamin can be consumed along with juice or taken along with food.

Childrens Chewable Vitamins

Childrens Chewable vitamin packets are another way of consuming vitamins. It is most suitable for children who prefer to chew tablets. To ensure that children are getting important nutrients, these vitamins are designed to provide them with the amount of vitamins required for their age. These Childrens Vitamins are flavored in such a way that kids will enjoy eating them. However, they contain no artificial coloring or chemicals to harm the children’s diet.

Best Children’s Vitamins

The key to live a healthy life is to eat different foods to get an assortment of vitamins. A childrens Vitamin Supplement should include a variety of vitamins, but emphasis should be on those vitamins which are necessary for the child on a daily basis. Some of the best Childrens Vitamins include:

Iron – This vitamin is necessary for the development of strong muscles and the production of blood. It helps prevent anemia. Anemia is the condition in which the production of red blood cells is not up to the mark. Iron is also considered an important part in Childrens Multivitamin.

Fluoride – Fluoride helps prevent cavities. It inhibits plaque and makes it less able to produce acid from carbohydrates. This vitamin helps combat tooth decay. This is of utmost importance as children tend to eat a lot of sweets and chocolates which damage teeth.

Calcium – Childrens vitamins should include Calcium as it is necessary for healthy bones and teeth. Calcium plays a prominent role in muscle contraction and helps the nervous system to work properly.

Vitamin A - Vitamin A plays an important part in preserving eye sight and fighting-off viral infections. For children experiencing night blindness or goose bumps, Vitamin A supplements should be increased.

Vitamin C- Vitamin C is required for the growth and repair of tissue in the body. It is important for children as it helps healing wounds and maintains teeth, bones and cartilage.

Proper nutrition has been shown in clinical studies to help children develop to their highest potential regarding:
• Grades in school • Balanced energy
• Focus and attention • Self-image
• Immune function and development

• Proper nutrition plays an important role to reduce chronic disease risk, yet on a daily basis, less than 50% of children consume the RDA recommended number of servings in any given food group and nearly 80% do not eat the recommended level of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables.**

• Obesity in kids has reached epidemic levels. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey indicates that approximately 25% of American adolescents between the ages of 12 and 19 can be described as overweight, or becoming at risk of overweight.*** Studies show that 20 to 40% of American youngsters are physically unfit.

• The American Journal of Psychiatry shows that children who experience malnutrition exhibit strikingly increased behavioral disorders and aggressive behavior as they grow older.The study looked at children between 8 and 17 years, and found disturbing behavioral statistics. Children who suffered certain nutritional deficiencies demonstrated a shocking 41% increase in aggression by age 8. At age 17, they demonstrated a 51% increase in violent and antisocial behavior. The foods they were eating and the nutrients they were missing were critical factors.

• According to a study conducted by the University of Southern California and published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, poor nutrition in the early years leads to low IQ and antisocial behavior that continues into later life.

Is your child at risk? Make sure your children are getting the proper nutrition through a healthy diet and the Eniva Vibe KIDS nutraceutical.

* Strategy One, 2005
**US Department of Agriculture,Agriculture Research Service, Family Economics and Nutrition Review,Trends in Food and Nutrient Intakes by Children in the US, CDC National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/bb_healthyyouth/index.html)
*** NHANES 1999. Data on file. Eniva USA, 2008.