According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 7.1 million children in the United States living with asthma. This chronic respiratory disease makes breathing difficult for those who suffer from it, causing many people to have attacks severe enough to land them in the emergency room.
A new study presented at an American Thoracic Society meeting suggests that the effects of asthma may have more far-reaching consequences for children, reports TIME Healthland. The data reveals that kids with bad asthma symptoms are more likely to show signs of poor academic performance. This is due in part to their physical discomfort, as well as the fact that children who suffer from the chronic respiratory disease may have a more difficult time sleeping at night.
"For urban children who are already at risk for high morbidity rates and exposed to urban poverty, this combination of risks has detrimental effects for their school functioning," said Daphne Koinis-Mitchell, the lead author of the study, according to TIME Healthland. "Disparities in academic, sleep and asthma outcomes are clearly evident in urban and ethnic-minority children. Intervening to control nighttime asthma and sleep can enhance school functioning in this group in meaningful ways."
The good news is, there are actions you can take at home to reduce the severity of your child's asthma symptoms, such as installing a whole house air purifier, which removes allergens directly from the air. Peruse the Allergy Be Gone website to learn about this and other products that can ensure a better quality of life for your loved ones with asthma and allergies.
