Introducing Asthma

      Asthma is a disease that effects the lungs due to inflammation of the airways. Symptoms of asthma are episodes of breathlessness, chest tightness, and wheezing. These symptoms make breathing a challenge and in the United States this affects nearly 25 million individuals, this accounts for both adults and children alike (CDC, 2009.) While there is no cure for asthma right now there are ways to limit the severity of the onset of asthma “attacks.” Some ways of doing this are through awareness of possible asthma triggers as pertaining to the individual and with the help of medicine which will further be discussed.

Clinical implications suggest that examining the ecological context may enable practitioners to identify social and environmental factors that challengethe management of childhood asthma. (Yinusa-Nyahkoon 2007)

Asthma: “Inflammation of the air passages resulting in the temporary narrowing of the airways that transport air from the nose and mouth to the lungs. Asthma symptoms can be caused  by allergens or irritants that are inhaled into the lungs, resulting in inflamed, clogged and constricted airways. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing tightness in the chest. In severe cases, asthma can be deadly.”
(AAFA; Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America)

• There is no cure for asthma, but asthma can be managed with proper prevention and treatment.


• Asthma has a genetic component. If only one parent has asthma, chances are 1 in 3 that each child will have asthma. If both parents have asthma, it is much more likely (7 in 10) that their children will have asthma.


• More Americans than ever before say they are suffering from asthma. It is one of this country’s most common and costly diseases.

Every person who struggles with asthma needs to recognize the catalyst of an attack via coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, and trouble breathing (symptoms.) Every person has their own personal triggers that set off an asthma attack. It is important for individuals to be knowledgeable of their particular triggers in order to avoid or at least reduce attack situations.(CDC)

Common triggers:

                           Dust mites

                           Secondhand smoke

                           Strenuous Physical Activity

                           Outdoor air pollution

                           Cockroach allergen

                           Pets

                           Mold

Here is an interesting link that will guide to a well done and informative brochure titled “You Can Control Asthma” CLICK HERE

Parent-Child:
Overall, four routines are looked at and managed by both the children and parents of the children with asthma. These routines are adapted by both the children and adults to which they adjust treatment recommendations to be utilized within their personal ecological context.
          1. Child with asthma given responsibility for medication use
          2. School nurse availability monitored
          3. Air quality analyzed managed at best efforts
          4. Home environment cleaned often

(Yinusa-Nyahkoon, 2007)

Family/Friends:
The education of family and friends on the topic of asthma is very important. If an individual diagnosed with asthma is surrounded by people unaware of the triggers of that individual then that individual will suffer. It is also important that the diagnosed individual is not the only person monitoring their use of medication/inhaler. The more aware and educated the family and friends are of the diagnosed individual the more likely that person will be able to live at a higher quality of life.

Social Support:
The more support and understand that surround the diagnosed individual the more they will accept their condition themselves. As an adolescent it can be viewed as embarrassing to be wheezing and struggling to breath in front of their peer group. With this embarrassment can come the lack of using an inhaler and being physically active (if a trigger.)

Support groups for both adults and children are much more readily active and available then one might think. Through the Asthma and Allergy Foundation a variety of support groups can be found. By clicking on SUPPORT GROUPyou will be able to find out more about support groups and what they offer as well as locate a possible local and convenient support group for yourself or someone you know.

In response to the growing asthma problem the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created a national asthma education and outreach program.While there is no cure, asthma can be controlled through medical treatment and management of environmental triggers.

THE GOAL: Reduce exposure to indoor asthma triggers and improve the quality of life for 6.5 million people by 2012.

Asthma Awareness and Education:
The month of May is “Asthma Awareness Month”

Follow the provided link to access the Asthma Awareness Month Event Planning Kit (February, 2010) to kick off your activities. The Kit includes tips for:

• Holding an asthma awareness event at a school, local hospital or clinic, library, or your state’s capitol building;


• Distributing asthma materials and educating parents on the risks of second-hand smoke;


• Partnering with local organizations to pool resources and increase publicity for your event;


• Collaborating with local leaders/celebrities to boost awareness for your campaigns;


• Garnering media attention for your event; and Much more

The growing awareness of asthma is great but it is important that those who have been made aware continue their duty by making others aware! They can do so by contributing to any of the previously listed bullet points.

Asthma in the Schools:Asthma awareness in school should be of great focus. Being aware that asthma is the most common chronic condition among children (AAFA) and knowing that children spend almost half of their days in a school setting shows that schools and their facilities can essentially contribute to half of the problem that is asthma. With that said, taking these preventative measures in the school settings can only make a positive impact.

1. Establish and Continuously Evaluate an Indoor Air Quality – IAQ – Management Program in Your School or District.

2. 
   Develop an Asthma Management Plan in Your School or District.
   Incorporate school policies to encourage a safer and more stable environment for students with asthma. This could range from access to inhalers to faculty education training on the topic of asthma.
   
   

3. 
   Reduce Environmental Asthma Triggers.
   This can be done by inspecting the school facilities thoroughly on a regular basis. Topics of focus should be mold, moisture, and source of indoor air pollutants.

(EPA)

Facilities:
As widely discussed with asthma it is very important that individuals with asthma recognize and avoid their personal triggers. Many possible triggers can be found indoors such as mold, pets, and chemical odors. With this knowledge it is important that thorough inspections are given in any facility that the individual who has asthma finds themselves spending amounts of time in.

Racial/Demographic:
In regards to asthma and the racial disparities of outcomes of the chronic disease African-American children demonstrate poorer clinical outcomes that any other racial group. Among children with asthma a higher level of quality of life is typical for the children who live in rural areas in comparison with those from cities.

• African Americans are three times more likely to be hospitalized from asthma. [13]


• African Americans are three times more likely to die from asthma.  African American Women have the highest asthma mortality rate of all groups, more than 2.5 times higher than Caucasian women.
  

(AAFA)

The American Lung Association (ALA) worked with partners to develop the National Asthma Public Policy Agenda to reduce the suffering and death from asthma. The ALA hope that groups and individuals who care about asthma will embrace the recommendations found in the Agenda and push to get them put in place nationwide.

This agenda focuses on health-care, homes, outdoor air, public health infrastructure, schools, and workplaces. I list both health-care and home agendas to give you, the readers, an idea of the direction of ALA while you can find information on the rest of the categories and sub categories by following this link …

National Asthma Public Policy Agenda

Health-Care:
1.All health-care systems, including public and private providers, purchasers and payers, should provide access to services and medications consistent with the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) guidelines. 
The health-care needed is not provided to many people with asthma as a means of controlling it. Asthma is an individualized disease and each person needs a specific diagnosis and plan of attack in order to properly control their struggle with asthma. With that said each asthma patient should be given acces to adequate care, medications, and education.

2. Standardized national performance measures should be adopted for monitoring and evaluating asthma quality of care.
Monitoring performance measures will allow for the tracking of hopeful progress of asthma patients. In doing so not only will the patients be looked after but the quality of care for these patients will be studied.

3. Promote quality improvement activities and develop and disseminate tools that support achievement of performance goals. 
Support for these activities can help make sure the quality of care is at its best.

Homes:
1. Housing code ordinances should protect people with asthma against indoor air problems. Housing codes are an established tool that can and should be used to reduce asthma triggers in homes. However, these codes vary considerably in their requirements and are often underused.

2. Housing code enforcement should be strengthened to reduce prevalence of indoor air quality problems.  Unhealthy indoor air can be a threat to anyone at home, especially those with asthma. Reducing these risks can lead to better management of the disease.

3.  Multi-unit housing should be smoke-free. Second hand smoke is a threat for people with asthma and a serious indoor air pollutant that should be eliminated. Having smoke-free housing is an important step to help those with lung disease.
(ALA)




REFERENCES

Asthma Facts and Figures. Retrieved November 13, 2010 from Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Website: http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=8&sub=42

 

CDC - Asthma - Basic Information. (2009, October 20). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 11, 2010, from http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/faqs.htm  

Yinusa-Nyahkoon, L., Cohn, E., Tickle-Degnen, L., Cortés, D., Lieu, T., & Bokhour, B. (2007). Examining
     routines to understand the ecological context: managing childhood asthma. OTJR: Occupation,
     Participation & Health, 2797S-99. Retrieved from CINAHL with Full Text database.

(2010, October 5). May is Asthma Awareness Month. Retrieved     November 14, 2010 from U.S. Environment Protection Agency     Website: http://www.epa.gov/asthma/awm/index.html

 

(2010). Health-Care Systems and Financing. Retrieved November 14, 2010 from American Lung Association Website: http://www.lungusa.org/lung-disease/asthma/advocacy/reports/health-care-systems.html 

(2010, October22). Managing Asthma in School Environment. Retrieved November 13, 2010 from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Website: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/managingasthma.html

 

(2009, April 24). Asthma. Retrieved November 13, 2010 from Center for Disease Control and Prevention Website: http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/