As a parent, you understand how difficult it is to see your child in pain or feeling uncomfortable, so if your little one suffers from asthma, it's natural to want to do everything in your power to determine what's causing the chronic respiratory disease and how to treat it. In recent years, research has suggested that there may be a link between asthma and common pain relievers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, meaning that many parents have refrained from giving these medications to their children.
However, a study presented at an American Thoracic Society meeting in mid-May indicates that this previous data has been misinterpreted. According to The New York Times, Boston-based researchers examined a group of 1,200 women and their children to determine the relationship between pain relievers and asthma.
They found that kids who had been exposed to Tylenol or Advil — the brand names of acetaminophen and ibuprofen, respectively — were indeed more likely to develop the chronic respiratory disease by the time they were 7 years old. But, when examining the reason behind this, they determined that the children had been given pain relievers to treat the symptoms of respiratory infections, which have been shown to lead to asthma. In other words, the infections were linked to the increased asthma risk – not the medications.
While asthma can cause a great deal of pain and discomfort in children, the good news is that there are ways to ensure that your little ones don't experience symptoms in their own home. Consider purchasing a whole house air purifier, a product from the Allergy Be Gone website that removes irritants directly from the air and helps people breathe easier.
