New Rewards Coming Soon!¡Se vienen nuevas recompensas!
Our Healthy Rewards Program is getting an update in September! For a sneak peek of all the changes - including new rewards and ways to redeem them - please click here.
¡Nuestro Programa Healthy Rewards tendrá su actualización en septiembre! Para ver un adelanto de todos los cambios, incluyendo nuevas recompensas y formas de canjearlas, haz clic aquí.
Have you or your child been diagnosed with asthma? Texas Children’s Health Plan offers tools, resources, and self-management ideas to help members understand asthma and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
What is asthma?
Asthma is a disease that makes it harder to breathe. For people with asthma, the airways in their lungs are often swollen or inflamed. This makes them very sensitive to a cold or things in the environment like dust, smoke, strong perfumes, and even pets. When exposed to any of these conditions, the insides of the airways swell even more, narrowing the space for the air to move in and out of the lungs. That is why breathing becomes so hard.
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Symptoms
Symptoms may vary but the primary symptoms of asthma may include:
Wheezing
Coughing
Shortness of breath
Chest tightness
Who’s at risk?
Asthma is the most common chronic condition among children. However, asthma can start at any age. People with allergies are also at high risk of having it. If not properly managed, it can be a life-threatening disease.
Common triggers
There are many factors that may trigger asthma, and each child reacts differently to these. Some of the most common factors are:
Colds and respiratory infections
Allergic reactions to allergens like pollen, mold, animal dander, feather, dust
Tobacco smoke
Poor air quality or very cold air
Emotional stress
Exercise
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Living with asthma
It is very important that you work with your doctor to create an action plan against asthma. An action plan is a written treatment plan document that you can share with family, caregivers and friends. It includes the following:
How to identify irritants
How to recognize and handle asthma attacks
Which medicines to take, how and when to take them
When to call your doctor or go to the emergency room