Why Do My Children Have Less Severe Asthma Than Me?

Three out of my four kids have asthma, but their experience with it has been mild and not disruptive to their childhoods. Why is there such a difference in the severity of their asthma and my asthma? Here are my theories explaining the phenomenon.

They had an experienced asthma dad

My experience with asthma has given me the skills to recognize the early signs of an asthma attack. It has also fostered empathy in me, which enables me to provide the necessary support to my children when they face an asthma episode.

For example, when my middle child with asthma woke up coughing at night, I could identify it as an asthma issue and knew how to help. Giving her a breathing treatment often eased her cough, allowing her to return to sleep. When her asthma symptoms persisted, I also knew when it was time to seek medical assistance.

So, with swift recognition and treatment, my children’s asthma never progressed to severe asthma. And, for this reason, their asthma remains well controlled on most days without the use of controller medicines. This means that, when they do experience asthma, it is usually easily reversed with minimal treatment.

They were born in a time with better asthma medicine

In all honesty, many of the asthma medications available today were also accessible during my childhood. However, the significant difference lies in the enhanced knowledge of asthma researchers and pharmaceutical advancements.

For instance, in my youth, there was reluctance to prescribe inhaled corticosteroids to children. They were typically reserved for acute asthma attacks. Nowadays, doctors are aware that inhaled corticosteroids are generally safe and effective for all age groups. Consequently, when needed, they seem more willing to prescribe them, even for children.

Moreover, when I was a child, the doses of medications like inhaled steroids were relatively low. This necessitated frequent dosing, with medications being taken every 4 hours throughout the day. I remember having to take 4 puffs of my Azmacort 4 times a day, which posed challenges, especially during school hours.

Today, some asthma medications are time-delayed and provide relief for up to 12 hours. This means that when these medicines are required, they only need to be taken twice a day. This simplified dosing schedule can greatly improve compliance with asthma medication.

They may have different genetic variations

It is possible that my children have a different genetic predisposition to asthma compared to me. Asthma is a complex condition with multiple genetic factors at play.

I may have a genetic makeup that makes made me more susceptible to severe forms of the condition, while my children may have genetic variations that make their asthma milder.

They were not exposed to the same environmental factors

As a child, I had significant exposure to environmental factors that likely contributed to the severity of my asthma. My dad and grandpa smoked, and we spent a lot of time around campfires. This early exposure to smoke and other irritants may have worsened my asthma. Additionally, I was frequently exposed to allergens because my parents were unaware of their role in my breathing difficulties. (No knock on my parents here, as they did the best they could with the knowledge they had).

In contrast, I made sure to keep my children away from these environmental triggers. This proactive approach likely played a crucial role in keeping their asthma well-managed and under control.

They may benefit from improved management and education

Advances in asthma management and patient education have made it easier for both patients and healthcare providers to control asthma effectively. My children may have benefited from better asthma education and more streamlined treatment plans, which can contribute to better asthma control.

Diverse experiences with asthma

Asthma affects us all differently. We can see this in our community, too, with some people having it bad and others not-so-much. It is the same in my family. My asthma was really bad when I was a kid, and it was hard to control. But my kids have milder asthma that does not bother them much, at least most of the time.

What about you? Do your kids have asthma? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.