What are ways to minimize kids getting prolonged coughs ? n strengthen lung health for kids ?

Answer 1

Don't smoke around them. Make sure they're outside playing a lot.

The more active your kids are, the healithier they are.

Answer 2

Please take your child to the doctor. Prolonged bouts of coughing may be due to any number of upper respiratory problems including allergies and illness, asthma, etc. There is also the possibility of Whooping cough, which can be quite serious and it contageous, this illness is making the rounds again...something is irritating your child's lungs. Please seek medical attention.

Answer 3

Two things I know of that are excellent for strengthening anyone's lungs are: swimming, and deep breathing (breathe in like you're filling your abdomen with air. your abdomen should push out below your ribs. Obviously the air is going deep into your lower lungs, but it's easier to explain as 'pooching out the tummy' to a child. the breathe out slowly, through mouth or nose. Repeat.).

Of my two sons, my youngest shares my genetic predisposition to creating lots of flem in response to dairy products, so especially during peak flu season and peak allergy season, we limit dairy products (this is no a lactose intollerance response, it is undefined still, according to doctors I have queried). We're a soy-milk family as Silk is now mass-marketed and affordable, and really good tasting - there are many kinds of soy-milk sold at Wal-Mart now, so taste test them on your child. Some of them are the consistency of a nice milk shake (mmmmm for the little ones). And many natural food retailers (Wild Oats, Alfalfas, etc...) used to let you taste them in store without purchasing (I haven't done that in about 8 years, but it used to be so).

My older son (11) uses nasal saline, 'Ocean', to clear mucus out of his sinus every AM and PM during allergy season. This keeps the mucus from getting down into his lungs and bringing on that horrible prolonged cough. 'Simply Saline' is another he has used, and they have a bottle made for infants and toddlers, but it is more expensive than 'Ocean'. Myself, I use a neti pot, making my own nasal saline - neti pots are really made for adult-size noses, though.

My younger son (7) uses the 'NeliMed Sinus Rise', available at Wal-Mart and Walgreens, if memory serves (it's been so long since we got ours, I can't remember which we got it from). We use the rinse container provided, and it comes with excellent instructions and saline packs. Again, cleaning in the AM and PM keeps that mucus from becoming post-nasal drip and going into the lungs.

As with everything kid-health-wise, find and talk to a pediatrician (and now we have DO's and nauturopath MD's), and/or a doctor you trust. We have a chiropractor I could not live without.

Think about environmental factors too - is you child's room drafty? Cold when it should be warm, or vice-versa? Are there any patches of mold in your home that need tending too (in wet areas, like bathroom and kitchen)? Do you need to dust the house more often (I hate dusting, so we do it as a family)? Is your ventillation system (HVAC) 'closed', in other words, sealed off properly from dust and insulation getting into it (not normal everyday dust)? Irritants irritate, and if circulating in your home's air, can prolong coughs and illness.

Hope this Helps.

Answer 4

The biggest offender in this category, aside from cigarette smoke, is cockroach dung. You may have to move or have your house professionally cleaned underneath the flooring and carpets in order to get rid of the damn stuff! Just because you don't see cockroaches, doesn't mean that they've never been there leaving their dung everywhere...

Answer 5

if you smoke around them,than stop,go outside or away from them...i smoke too,just not around my kids,also if you can find some raspberry root and black cherry bark to make a tea,this will help.
good heath to your babes.

Answer 6

Have your kids tested for allergies and asthma, they made need maintenance medication