MARY HONDROS: Okay, now I am going to talk a little bit about the condition asthma. What happens in asthma is that the bronchial airways, the airways to the lungs, get very easily irritated and they tend to spasm and tighten. Children often get diagnosed with asthma before the age of two. There are lots of risk factors for developing asthma. There is no really one known cause. There are things you can do, however, to reduce the risk that your baby will develop asthma throughout its lifetime. Keep in mind that breastfeeding over formula feeding is always better. It reduces the risk for developing allergies as well as asthma in the future. Also remember to consume a very healthy diet when you are pregnant. Keep your five to nine servings of fresh fruits and vegetables. And that is very important when you are talking about reducing the risk of developing asthma. Also, in some children, milk and milk products tend to aggravate asthma symptoms because they tend to cause more mucus buildup in the lungs. So sometimes limiting those milk products in the diet will help reduce asthma symptoms. And also, you can get calcium from other non-dairy foods. So again, four tips if your child has asthma or you are trying to reduce the risk of them developing asthma. Just keep in mind, number one, breastfeeding over formula feeding. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you breastfeed your infant for at least one year of their lifetime to reap the full benefits of breastfeeding. And secondly, remember that some children that develop asthma have it aggravated by milk and milk products. So, make sure that they consume calcium through vegetable sources, including broccoli, leafy greens and even a calcium supplement if necessary. Thirdly, make sure you eat a healthy diet when you are pregnant. Fresh fruits and vegetables, it helps reduce the risk that your child will eventually develop asthma. And fourthly, make sure, if your child has asthma, to always keep your medication with you. Always keep your inhaler with you when you are out, because asthma attacks can happen anywhere. So those are four tips on controlling your asthma and preventing your asthma.
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