Related Programs

Asthma 101 Treatment of Asthma in Children 5-12 Asthma in Kids Under 5

Asthma Asthma Basics

Asthma in Adolescents: Dealing With New Challenges

Summary & Participants

Being a teen can be difficult. Being a teen with asthma poses extra challenges. There may be changes in the characteristics of their symptoms due to puberty, and distractions may make them less aware. Listen as experts discuss how to help adolescents face asthma.

Medically Reviewed On: May 09, 2008

Webcast Transcript

NANCY OSTROM, MD: Adolescents often don't tell me what's really going on, don't tell me their symptoms or haven't even recognized themselves that, when they tried to throw a Frisbee with their friend, they couldn't run very fast or very far. Or that they're kind of sleepy because they've been coughing through the night with asthma cough.

ANNOUNCER: Sometimes adolescents can't ignore their asthma, for it can have a real impact on their quality of life.

ELLEN CRAIN, MD: Sometimes they're really limited in their activities in lots of ways. Those who wish to participate in sports often can't participate up to their full capabilities because of their asthma. Others just get used to the limitations that asthma puts on them and don't even try anymore to run around, play with their friends, you know, do all kinds of activities. And some are really very incapacitated and stay home most of the time.

ANNOUNCER: Good communication, and finding out what matters to individual teens, often can lead to more effective treatment of asthma.

ELLEN CRAIN, MD: I think one of the great skills of a doctor who takes care of teenagers is to figure out what it is that motivates the patient.

NANCY SANDER: And so, for example, if Jason wants to play football. Well, the strategy then becomes, "OK, Jason, if you want to play football, you're going to be using your medications twice a day. This is going to treat that underlying inflammation that just wants to sap all your energy from you when you're on the playing field."

NANCY OSTROM, MD: When I speak to adolescents who may be denying their symptoms or not want to treat their symptoms or think that this'll be not worth it, because it's going to limit their life anyway, I talk about the fact that a large percentage of, for example, the year's Olympic swim team has exercise-induced asthma. But it's manageable to the point that they are the most elite athletes in the world. I do tell them that I don't expect that they will necessarily be Olympic qualifiers, but that I don't expect their asthma to be an excuse for not living a full, active, fun life.

ANNOUNCER: Breaking through to teenagers may be difficult. But when it comes to asthma, driving the treatment message home can make a big and important difference in their lives.

NANCY SANDER: Well-controlled asthma means that they are involved and active, and does it mean that they don't have to take medication? No. Does it mean that they don't have symptoms from time to time? No. It just means they have a strategy for staying on top of it and they're not missing out on the fun of life.

<< Previous Page 2 of 2