Exercise-induced asthma just starting in dd8-anything natural I can try?

[HappyGrace]

Dd8 has never shown any sign of asthma until lately. (dh and stepson have it-runs heavily in dh's family but it's more to do with allergies, which dd doesn't have.) I thought we had avoided it with my kids. But the last couple times she has been running, she gets what is definitely asthma. It has only happened two times. Questions: Isn't she kind of old for asthma to start? And is there anything natural I can try? I'm hoping if I catch this early, I can maybe head it off some? Or is that not how it goes?

[Jean in Newcastle]

Have you checked food allergies too? Asthma has been linked to food allergies as well as the environmental kind.

[HappyGrace]

happened twice. Hasn't been tied to any particular foods that I can tell.

[Ottakee]

Well, I would see the doctor and get a rescue inhaler and THEN work on any natural stuff, figuring out triggers, etc. As an ER doctor told me once, if she can't breathe, NOTHING else matters.

I don't like meds if they aren't needed but for breathing, we always have a rescue inhaler with us. Now, we rarely need it but if we do, I am glad to have it along.

I would ask to see a pediatric pulmonologist. They will often give you LESS meds than a primary care doctor. Also, with asthma it is MUCH better and easier to PREVENT problems than it is to treat them.

For example, when my dd had pneumonia. We messed around with lower dose meds for 1 month when we would have been better off hitting her hard with higher dose meds right away. Also preventative meds are much lower in dose than those needed to treat an attack.

[HappyGrace]

We do have rescue inhalers here since dh uses them. I did love your quote by the ER personnel!

Thank you again-I'm on really unfamiliar ground here and you helped light my way some! (Sorry for the mixed metaphors :o)