Treating Asthma During Pregnancy
Being pregnant during hot summer months can be very uncomfortable. Huffing and puffing with carrying the additional weight of the baby, many expecting women are struggling.
More so for women with asthma. About 4 to 8 per cent of pregnant women suffer from asthma, but a study has revealed that, in many cases, they do not get the treatment and medications that they (and their unborn babies) require.
"Some physicians are reluctant to give pregnant asthmatic patients steroids out of fear of the impact it may have on the unborn child. However, those same women who were not treated appropriately during their first trip were nearly four times as likely to return to the emergency department with persistent asthma symptoms within two weeks," adds McCallister, who is also a pulmonologist and critical care specialist at the Medical Center.
The take home message is clear: mom needs to breathe properly so that her baby gets enough oxygen, too. Asthma medications are safe and will benefit both mom and baby.
If you are pregnant and suffer from asthma, be sure to consult your doctor for appropriate symptom management.