American Lung Association's
Test Your Asthma Knowledge Quiz
SOURCE: Taken directly from http://www.lung.org/lung-disease/asthma/test-your-asthma-knowledge-quiz.html
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Asthma Resources
For More Information,
contact:
 |
| Source: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/ |
NHLBI (The National
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) Health Information Center
P.O. Box 30105
Bethesda, MD 20824–0105
Phone: 301–592–8573
Fax: 301–592–8563
Web site: www.nhlbi.nih.gov
Allergy and Asthma
Network: Mothers of Asthmatics
8201 Greensboro Drive, Suite 300
McLean, VA 22102
800–878–4403
Web site: www.aanma.org
American Academy of
Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
555 East Wells Street, Suite 1100
Milwaukee, WI 53202–3823
414–272–6071
Web site: www.aaaai.org
American Association
for Respiratory Care
9425 North MacArthur Boulevard, Suite 100
Irving, TX 75063
972–243–2272
Web site: www.aarc.org
American College of
Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
85 West Algonquin Road, Suite 550
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
847–427–1200
Web site: www.acaai.org
*Pollen Count Stations:
National Allergy Bureau (NAB): http://www.aaaai.org/global/nab-pollen-counts.aspx
 |
National Allergy Bureau's Pollen Count StationsSource: http://www.aaaai.org/global/nab-pollen-counts.aspx |
American Lung
Association
1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20004
800–586–4872 (800–LUNG–USA)
202–785–3355
Web site: www.lungusa.org
Association of Asthma
Educators
1215 Anthony Avenue
Columbia, SC 29201
888–988–7747
Web site: www.asthmaeducators.org
Asthma and Allergy
Foundation of America
8201 Corporate Drive, Suite 1000
Landover, MD 20785
800–727–8462
Web site: www.aafa.org
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC)
1600 Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30333
800–232–4636 (800–CDC–INFO)
TTY: 888–232–6348
Web site: www.cdc.gov/asthma
Food Allergy and Research;
Anaphylaxis Network
11781 Lee Jackson Highway, Suite 160
Fairfax, VA 22033
800–929–4040
Web site: www.foodallergy.org
National Jewish
Health
1400 Jackson Street
Denver, CO 80206
877-225-5654
Web site: www.njc.org
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. SW
Mail Code 66095
Washington, DC 20460
Website: www.epa.gov/asthma
Indoor Air Division:
www.airnow.gov
*Agencia de Protección
Ambiental de Estados Unidos: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/espanol/asma.html
Virginia Asthma
Coalition (VAC)
Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association
4200 Innslake Dr.
Glen Allen, VA 23060
540-985-8371
* Hay mas informacion en espanol aqui (El Asma: Latino Asthma Resources)
(EPA, 2014)
(EPA en español, 2013)
(NHLBI, 2013)
(Virginia Asthma Coalition, 2013)
Friday, June 6, 2014
El Asma: Latino Asthma Resources
"¿Qué es el asma? El asma es una enfermedad pulmonar seria. Si usted o su niño tiene asma, usted no está solo. Cerca de 23 millones de personas en los Estados Unidos padecen de asma. El asma es la causa principal de enfermedad es de larga duración en los niños" (EPA, 2013).
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CÓMO USAR EL inhalador de dosis medida - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/asthma/asthma_tipsheets_sp.pdf
Video: "Respirar es vida: el control del asma en
nuestros niños" - http://youtu.be/pGUo-3-R8wk
¿ApoyA su escuelA A los niños que tienen AsmA? - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/asthma/asthma_friendly_checklist_sp.pdf
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http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/index.htm#asthma
http://www.aaaai.org/about-the-aaaai/newsroom/media-gallery/photos---graphics--illustrations.aspx
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/espanol/asma.html
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Interdisciplinary Resources - Can a Specialist Help?
Referral Guidelines:
You may want to see a doctor specializing in treating asthma (a pulmonologist or an allergist/immunologist) if your child’s diagnosis is uncertain, the side effects of the medications are unbearable, or the asthma is difficult to control with frequent exacerbations (asthma attacks) (UpToDate, 2014).
A pulmonologist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary (lung) conditions. Pulmonologists are helpful when a pulmonary (lung) disease other than asthma is suspected or when additional pulmonary testing (tests evaluating the how well the lungs function) or bronchoscopy (a procedure that allows the doctor to look inside the lower respiratory tract) are needed (UpToDate, 2014).
An allergist (or immunologist) is
a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies, asthma, and
immune deficiency disorders. Seeing an allergists/immunologist is helpful when allergic
triggers need evaluation or allergy symptoms are uncontrollable. Allergists are familiar with the many
types of indoor and outdoor allergens that may impact asthma and breathing, have received special training in how to identify these environmental triggers, and can provide advice on how to avoid them (UpToDate, 2014; AAAAI, 2014).
Learn about common asthma triggers here – http://www.epa.gov/asthma/triggers.html.
You may want to see a doctor specializing in treating asthma (a pulmonologist or an allergist/immunologist) if your child’s diagnosis is uncertain, the side effects of the medications are unbearable, or the asthma is difficult to control with frequent exacerbations (asthma attacks) (UpToDate, 2014).
A pulmonologist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary (lung) conditions. Pulmonologists are helpful when a pulmonary (lung) disease other than asthma is suspected or when additional pulmonary testing (tests evaluating the how well the lungs function) or bronchoscopy (a procedure that allows the doctor to look inside the lower respiratory tract) are needed (UpToDate, 2014).
 |
| http://www.return2health.net/articles/healthy-lungs/ |
Learn about common asthma triggers here – http://www.epa.gov/asthma/triggers.html.
Patients with allergic asthma (asthma triggered by allergens) who see an allergist/immunologist have been shown to experience improved
outcomes (AAAAI,
2014). While not every child with asthma
needs to see a specialist, for many, asthma care in children provided by a specialist as
the usual source of care has been shown to improve both the degree of care received
and be more consistent with national guidelines (Lieberman, 2012). Patients with asthma
who see allergists (as opposed to primary care providers) report experiencing wide-ranging
outcome improvement, including:
- Higher quality of life
- Fewer problems controlling asthma
- Less severe symptoms
- Higher patient satisfaction
- Better understanding of how to management their asthma
- Fewer asthma-related hospitalizations
- Fewer asthma-related unscheduled doctor visits
- Less frequent use of rescue medication and increased use of inhaled steroids
(Lieberman, 2012)
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology has
developed referral guidelines to
help determine when referral to an allergist is necessary. You can ask your health care provider if your
child might benefit from a referral (AAAAI, 2014). Those who might benefit from a referral to an
allergist/immunologist include:
- Children with asthma that is not well controlled
- Children with asthma that is classified as moderate or severe persistent asthma
- Children who frequently use rescuer/reliever medications
- Children who require emergency room care for asthma attacks
- Children with a possible connection between their asthma and an unavoidable airborne allergens who also have a poor response to their medications, desire to avoid long-term medication, or have other allergy symptoms (like a frequent runny nose and itchy eyes)
- Children and families requiring education about possible environmental triggers
- Any child with potentially fatal asthma, including those with a previous life threatening episode or intubation (intubation = tube inserted to help with breathing).
(AAAAI, 2014)
Patients may also benefit from joining a local Educational Support Group (ESG). The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has support groups in many states. These groups provide emotional support while offering helpful information about asthma and allergies. Search for a group in your state here:
HTTP://WWW.AAFA.ORG/ESG_SEARCH.CFM. You can also start your own AAFA Educational Support Group by calling AAFA at 800-7-ASTHMA.
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
How to Use Your Inhaler
Check out this website (http://www.asthma.ca/adults/treatment/howToUse.php)
for great step-by-step instructions on:
How to Use Your Inhaler,
How to Clean Your Spacer or MDI, and
Important Reminders About Spacers or MDI.
 |
| Source: http://www.asthma.ca/adults/treatment/meteredDoseInhaler.php |
 |
| Source: http://www.asthma.ca/adults/treatment/spacers.php |
Videos about How to Use your Inhaler:
(in English, Español, Português, Français, Italiano, Polski, 中国的, العربية, Việt, and हिंदी)
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Developmental Considerations
Asthma in Children Under 5:
Many
children develop asthma before age 5, and these infant, toddlers, and
preschooler require different treatment than teens and adults. Infants, toddlers and 4-year-olds are
diagnosed and treated differently than are, and it
may be impossible to obtain a diagnosis of asthma until a later age (Mayo,
2014). Older children and adults can confirm an asthma diagnosis by doing
breathing tests (spirometry or peak flows) but most children under 5 can’t
perform these tests yet (Mayo, 2014).
Children in this age range may not be able to express to you verbally that they are having symptoms and will need help taking their medications. Infants also tend to have less obvious symptoms of
asthma because their chests are more flexible, but you may be able to see chest
retractions (you may be able to see the outline of their ribs as they are trying hard
to breath) (Hockenberry and Wilson,
2006). They may feed slowly or get short
of breath while feeding (Mayo, 2014). Young
children may sit in the Tripod
Position (leaning forwards with hands on their knees) when attempting to breath
better (Hockenberry and Wilson,
2006). You may also notice shortness of
breath, cough, and a decreased desire to run and play when your young child is
having asthma symptoms (Mayo, 2014).
 |
| Source: http://childrenshospitalblog.org/?s=asthma |
For the child under 5, much of the stress of
managing the disease falls on the parent(s) and may seem overwhelming. Here are FIVE STEPS to
help manage your infant, toddler, or preschooler’s asthma (Mayo, 2014):
1. Learn about Asthma
- Understand your child’s medications, how they work, and when to give them
- Learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of asthma and to keep a record of symptoms
- Know what to do when your child's asthma gets worse
2. Develop a Written Asthma ACTION PLAN (Find them here)
- Create this plan WITH your child's doctor
- An action plan outline the steps needed to manage asthma symptoms
- Everyone providing care to the child, including preschool teachers, should have a copy
3. See the Doctor to Make
Changes
- Every child is different, so your doctor will work with you to adjust medication types and dosages until you find what is most effective for your child’s asthma symptoms.
- Report any medication side effects (irritability, shaking, trouble sleeping or excitability)
4. Control Asthma Triggers
- Learning to avoid asthma triggers is very important, but triggers vary from child to child, so the first step is identifying these triggers. Once you have identified your child’s triggers, you can take step to avoid them.
- Common asthma triggers are:
- Respiratory Infections/Colds
- Environmental Allergens (dust mites, pollen)
- Pets
- Exercise
- Cold Weather
- Cigarette Smoke
- Heartburn
5. Stick to the Plan!
- The best way to keep asthma under control is to follow your child's asthma action plan and update it when it isn’t working. You should carefully track changes in your child’s symptoms so that medication changes can be made BEFORE a severe attack occurs.
Asthma in Children Ages 5-11:
Physical
Activity and Being a Kid:
Children with asthma that is well
controlled should be able to run and play and participate in normal activities
with other children, although they may need to take some precautions (Hockenberry and Wilson,
2006). Many children
with asthma have exercised induced asthma (EIB), which means that symptoms are
brought on by rigorous activity (Mayo, 2014). Exercise induced asthma is caused by the loss of heat and water from the lungs during exercise and occurs during or just after vigorous exercise (Sadaf and Kaslovsky, 2011). It should reach its peak 5-10 minutes after stopping exercise, and symptoms should resolve within 30 minutes (Sadaf and Kaslovsky, 2011).
At this age, children can become very anxious about their condition and may fear dying, peer rejection for being "different,” and adverse drug affects (UpToDate, 2014). This may lead children to self-limit their activity; however, this does NOT need to be the case (Mayo, 2014). If a child is receiving appropriate asthma treatment, physical activity doesn’t need to be restricted, and your child can participate in any type of sport at any level, even the Olympics (Mayo, 2014)! However, without proper treatment, exercised induced asthma can result in negative physical outcomes, including poor overall fitness, decreased stamina, a sedentary lifestyle, and exercise avoidance (Mayo, 2014).
At this age, children can become very anxious about their condition and may fear dying, peer rejection for being "different,” and adverse drug affects (UpToDate, 2014). This may lead children to self-limit their activity; however, this does NOT need to be the case (Mayo, 2014). If a child is receiving appropriate asthma treatment, physical activity doesn’t need to be restricted, and your child can participate in any type of sport at any level, even the Olympics (Mayo, 2014)! However, without proper treatment, exercised induced asthma can result in negative physical outcomes, including poor overall fitness, decreased stamina, a sedentary lifestyle, and exercise avoidance (Mayo, 2014).
By the time a child is five years old, he should be able to be an active participant in controlling his asthma.
A pre-adolescent child should learn to use his rescue medication,
avoid allergens, and practice good hand hygiene. Children who take inhaled medication, such as
through a nebulizer or metered dose inhaler (MDI), can be taught to use the
device themselves (See How to use your Inhaler Post), but young children who cannot use the MDI correctly should
use a spacer to make sure they all the medication into the lungs (Hockenberry and Wilson, 2006). Most children, 5 years of age or older, can also learn to use a peak expiratory flow meters (PEFMs), although they should be supervised
while learning to use it (Hockenberry and Wilson,
2006).
Children in the age range may sit in the Tripod Position (leaning forwards with hands on
their knees) when attempting to breath, although older children may also sit upright with shoulders hunched and arms
outstretched on a bed or chair (Hockenberry and Wilson, 2006).
 | |
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Concerns About Growth:
There
is a concern that some asthma medications
can impact growth when taken during the age range of 5-11 years of age, or
children who have not yet gone though puberty (NIH, 2012). A study published in 2012, found that
children with asthma who took high doses of corticosteroids were shorter by
half an inch than other children (NIH). Other
researchers argue that these children will catch up in height later. Parents should discuss the risks and benefits
of any medication with their child’s provider.
There are definite benefits gained by taking inhaled steroids (like
Advair), including better asthma control and fewer, shorter hospitalizations; inhaled steroids are generally considered the safest and most effective means of controlling
asthma available (NIH, 2012).
Asthma in Children Ages 12 and older:
 | |
|
For many people with asthma, symptoms can improve with adolescence and adulthood. Some children’s asthma symptoms go away during their teen year, but for about two-thirds of kids, their asthma will continue into adulthood (Hockenberry and Wilson, 2006). In general, when symptoms are frequent and severe, this is an indication they will continue into adulthood, and even children who “outgrow” having asthma attacks can continue to have overly reactive airways and a cough as adults (Hockenberry and Wilson, 2006).
However, teens with asthma are actually at high risk for serious disease complications (Sadaf and Kaslovsky, 2011). This is because many teens will deny the severity of their disease, underreport symptoms, stop taking their medication correctly, and engage in risk-taking behaviors that can greatly aggravate asthma like smoking tobacco and marijuana and using cocaine (Sadaf and Kaslovsky, 2011). Many teens begin to view the strict treatment schedule necessary to control asthma as interfering with their newly emerging sense of independence (Sadaf and Kaslovsky, 2011). Many teens with asthma also experience a number of psychiatric conditions at a higher rate than other teens, including depression, anxiety, ADHD, behavioral and learning disorders, and even posttraumatic stress disorder, especially in those who have experienced life threatening asthma complications (Sadaf and Kaslovsky, 2011).
As children grow up, the balance of influences from friends, family, and their healthcare providers will change. In early and middle adolescence, however, teens are often very concerned about how having asthma will affect their friendships and popularity with peers, but as teens progress from early to middle to late adolescence, they should eventually begin to think more like adults and begin to understand the importance of taking their medication again regardless of peer influence (Sadaf and Kaslovsky, 2011). As adolescents begin to think like adults, it is important to let them speak to their doctor alone and take on the primary role in planning and evaluating their asthma therapy (Sadaf and Kaslovsky, 2011). For parent, this is the time period in which the role transitions to being more of a supportive one. Adolescents will also need guidance in making the transition into the adult healthcare world, as they often have significant financial barriers to getting care arise at this stage (Sadaf and Kaslovsky, 2011).
However, teens with asthma are actually at high risk for serious disease complications (Sadaf and Kaslovsky, 2011). This is because many teens will deny the severity of their disease, underreport symptoms, stop taking their medication correctly, and engage in risk-taking behaviors that can greatly aggravate asthma like smoking tobacco and marijuana and using cocaine (Sadaf and Kaslovsky, 2011). Many teens begin to view the strict treatment schedule necessary to control asthma as interfering with their newly emerging sense of independence (Sadaf and Kaslovsky, 2011). Many teens with asthma also experience a number of psychiatric conditions at a higher rate than other teens, including depression, anxiety, ADHD, behavioral and learning disorders, and even posttraumatic stress disorder, especially in those who have experienced life threatening asthma complications (Sadaf and Kaslovsky, 2011).
As children grow up, the balance of influences from friends, family, and their healthcare providers will change. In early and middle adolescence, however, teens are often very concerned about how having asthma will affect their friendships and popularity with peers, but as teens progress from early to middle to late adolescence, they should eventually begin to think more like adults and begin to understand the importance of taking their medication again regardless of peer influence (Sadaf and Kaslovsky, 2011). As adolescents begin to think like adults, it is important to let them speak to their doctor alone and take on the primary role in planning and evaluating their asthma therapy (Sadaf and Kaslovsky, 2011). For parent, this is the time period in which the role transitions to being more of a supportive one. Adolescents will also need guidance in making the transition into the adult healthcare world, as they often have significant financial barriers to getting care arise at this stage (Sadaf and Kaslovsky, 2011).
Monday, June 2, 2014
ASTHMA ACTION PLAN - available in 8 languages!
An ASTHMA ACTION PLAN is a step-by-step plan developed with your health care provider to maintain good day-to-day asthma control. Asthma varies from person to person, so it will be YOUR guide for:
- Taking your medication(s)
- Avoiding asthma triggers
- Tracking and judging your level of symptom control (green, yellow and red zones)
- Responding to asthma symptoms
- Recognizing and treating an asthma attack
- Adjusting medications
- Seeking emergency care
(Mayo Clinic, 2014; NIH, 2014)
Talk to your child's provider about developing an ASTHMA ACTION PLAN!
http://virginiaasthmacoalition.org/documents/VACAAP4-19-2012[1].pdf (English)
http://virginiaasthmacoalition.org/documents/VAC_asthma_action_plan_Spanish_5-15-12.pdf (Spanish)
Down load an ACTION PLAN in English, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Khmer, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese HERE - http://massclearinghouse.ehs.state.ma.us/ASTHMAPROG/AS902.html
http://virginiaasthmacoalition.org/documents/VAC_asthma_action_plan_Spanish_5-15-12.pdf (Spanish)
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