Bronchospasm Action Plans

Your child has just been diagnosed with bronchospasms. Now what?

The medical duo of Dr. Heena Thakkar and Dr. Shilpa Pankaj of Peekaboo Pediatrics in Houston, TX, await your visit to help formulate your child's asthma action plan for a healthier respiratory future. 

What is an Action Plan? 

An action plan is a comprehensive guide to managing your child's bronchospasms. When you meet with our doctor, they may ask you to keep a breathing log on your child. 

We base your child's typical symptom-free breathing pattern on your child's green or good breathing levels by using a peak flow meter, an excellent tool for determining your child's breathing capacity. 

Your child will open the machine, take a deep breath, and briefly blow into the meter. On the left side of the meter, there are two flags that you can use later to set your child's green/yellow/red ranges. 

Your child may use this device several times a day over a few weeks to a month. Keeping a written log of your child's breathing numbers will help our doctor determine your child's normal breathing range. 

If your child has a history of bronchospasms, we initiate a maintenance and emergency rescue inhaler. The breathing log and action plan determine when to use the emergency inhaler. 

Peekaboo Pediatrics in Houston, TX, knows that asthma is more tightly controlled when our doctor works with you and your child to create green/yellow/red breathing ranges. Listed below are examples of what these ranges look like. 

• Green Range - Your child's peak flow exceeds 80% of their total number with no chest tightness/coughing/wheezing/or shortness of breath, and they can do everyday activities without problems. Continue with medication as usual.
• Yellow Range - Your child's peak flow is 50 - 75% of their average number. Wheezing/coughing/or tightness in the chest awakens them in the middle of the night. They may have difficulty doing everyday activities. Continue with their long-term medication and add on the emergency inhaler. Check the peak flow meter after an hour to see improvement. 
• Red Range - The peak flow meter is less than 50% of your child's average number. The emergency inhaler is not working, and your child has been in yellow for 24 hours. They are unable to do activities and are struggling to breathe normally. This situation would be considered an emergency. Your child needs to see the doctor or emergency room. 

Call Us Today for Your Child's Bronchospasm Action Plan

Dr. Thakkar and Dr. Pankaj of Peekaboo Pediatrics in Houston, TX, await your phone call to schedule a visit to discuss your child's asthma and establish an action plan today. Call Peekaboo Pediatrics in Houston at (713) 861-4800.