Asthma

You might have trouble spelling the word "asthma," but if you have it you should know all about it and so should your friends. If you or someone has had an asthma attack at school, it can be a very scary thing to witness. Sometimes the person having the attack will cough and wheeze, to say nothing of looking very uncomfortable. You or this person has "asthma" and this book will help educate people about what goes on when someone is having an attack. It is a condition that "starts in the airways," the tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. When someone has asthma, these "tubes become inflamed or swollen." When an attack occurs, these tubes can become quite narrow, depending on the severity of the attack. It can be very difficult to breathe, but having asthma doesn't mean you should just become a couch potato, because with proper treatment it can be controlled. This book says that "scientists are not sure what causes asthma." There are many things that can trigger an attack from pollen, pet dander, cockroaches (YUK!), dust mites to an odd assortment of things that irritate your lungs. Even things like strong emotions can trigger one. Smoking . . . well, that is a given. Don't do it and try to stay away from those who do. This book also talks about going to the doctor and managing and treating your asthma according to the plan you and your doctor set up. With a large number of children who have asthma in the United States, a book like this should be a must have in the home of any child who has it, homeschool or classroom libraries. The book gives a general overview of what "asthma is, what triggers it, and how to keep it under control." It has a nice flow and is serious, but not alarmist. There are a few scattered informative sidebars, a glossary, an index and additional recommended book and web site resources. This is one in a series of six in the Head-to-Toe Health books, one that would be a great addition to the homeschool or classroom shelves!