Young Boy Remains Active Despite Asthma, Number of Cases Increase
By: Kristin Anderson
Updated: May 15, 2012
"It doesn't slow him down a whole lot. We just have to be careful, especially during allergy season," said Bonnie Valdez, whose seven year old son, Brandon, has asthma.
For Brandon, being outside and playing can be a little tough with his asthma. But he's not the only one, as there has been a spike in the number of asthma cases in the last year.
"We've seen an increase in asthma related claims across the state," said Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas spokesman Ross Blackstone. "In Abilene alone last year we covered about 18,000 claims that cost about $1,700.000."
Though it can be difficult for a young boy who is involved in a variety of sports, he has already learned how to deal with his asthma.
"It is kind of hard for him whenever he has to sit down and take a break, you know, pull himself together, but he knows that he just needs to deal with it and that's what we're going to have to do," said his mother.
The reasoning for this increase in asthma cases can be credited to an increase of pollen in the air, and how long it sticks around.
"Each year in the past, the pollen counts have gotten more and more, has increased since 2009," said Susan McQuad, certified asthma educator at Hendrick Medical Center. "So we're thinking it's a lot of the pollen in the air, the warmer climate. The pollen season is lasting a lot longer, so it's effecting more people."
About one million children in Texas have asthma, and while Brandon doesn't have any friends that have it, his mom has seen a lot of children with allergy related breathing problems similar to his.
"I do know at my kids school , with the allergies it just kind of effects the, you know, lots of kids in this area, and so i have noticed kids sitting out, breathing problems, things like that during their sports events," his mother said.
McQuad said that if you or your children are experiencing any symptoms, to get them to a doctor.
For Brandon, being outside and playing can be a little tough with his asthma. But he's not the only one, as there has been a spike in the number of asthma cases in the last year.
"We've seen an increase in asthma related claims across the state," said Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas spokesman Ross Blackstone. "In Abilene alone last year we covered about 18,000 claims that cost about $1,700.000."
Though it can be difficult for a young boy who is involved in a variety of sports, he has already learned how to deal with his asthma.
"It is kind of hard for him whenever he has to sit down and take a break, you know, pull himself together, but he knows that he just needs to deal with it and that's what we're going to have to do," said his mother.
The reasoning for this increase in asthma cases can be credited to an increase of pollen in the air, and how long it sticks around.
"Each year in the past, the pollen counts have gotten more and more, has increased since 2009," said Susan McQuad, certified asthma educator at Hendrick Medical Center. "So we're thinking it's a lot of the pollen in the air, the warmer climate. The pollen season is lasting a lot longer, so it's effecting more people."
About one million children in Texas have asthma, and while Brandon doesn't have any friends that have it, his mom has seen a lot of children with allergy related breathing problems similar to his.
"I do know at my kids school , with the allergies it just kind of effects the, you know, lots of kids in this area, and so i have noticed kids sitting out, breathing problems, things like that during their sports events," his mother said.
McQuad said that if you or your children are experiencing any symptoms, to get them to a doctor.
