Asthma CAN be controlled.

Asthma is a chronic lung disease in which the linings of the airways become inflamed and muscle spasms restrict the flow of air to the lungs. Asthma is a common condition affecting more than 7 million people in the United States.

Asthma symptoms may include: difficulty breathing, a tight feeling in the chest, coughing, and wheezing. The symptoms of asthma are frequently experienced at night, but an asthma episode can occur at any time. Asthma episodes can range from mild discomfort to life-threatening attacks in which breathing stops completely.

Although there is no known cure for asthma, there are steps you can take to minimize the severity and frequency of symptoms. These steps include:

• Limiting exposure to asthma triggers.
  
• Identifying early warning signals.
  
• Using effective management tools to monitor lung function.
  
• Taking prescribed asthma medications consistently and correctly.
  
• Working closely with your physicians and health care providers.
  
• Using a personalized, written action plan to manage episodes.

Asthma is a fact of life for millions of people, but it CAN be controlled. Most adults and children diagnosed with asthma can have normal, active lives.
Asthma Services are supported by the United Way of Central Ohio, Wendy’s Foundation, the Columbus Foundation and donations from the community. Please call 457-4570 to learn more about how you can help support programs that serve low-income and un- and under-insured persons. The Breathing Association is a 501 (c) (3) organization.

Are you at risk of Asthma?

If you answered YES to two or more questions, you should ask your doctor to screen you for asthma at your next check up.

Asthma is a major public health problem in the United States. 

• 2002 prevalence estimates of asthma for the state of Ohio indicate that 872,000 adults have been told by a doctor that they have asthma while 6.3 million children are affected by the disease.   
• As of 2002, 9.2% of children under age 18 and 10.3% of adults in Franklin County have been diagnosed with asthma.  These rates are typically higher in low-income households and among minorities.
• The rate of asthma in children less than 5 years of age has risen by 160% over the past 15 years and asthma is now considered a national epidemic.   
• Nationally, people with asthma experience over 100 million days of restricted activity annually.   Studies show that heightened school and community based efforts are needed to promote healthy environments and to improve asthmatic children’s self-management.
• According to the Ohio Hospital Association Data in 2001, total hospital charges for individuals with a primary diagnosis of asthma were $100,023,421.
• Nationally, the Healthy People 2010 project reports that the rate of ER visits for children under 5 was 150 per 10,000 and 71.1 per 10,000 for children over 5 and adults.

  
According to National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Guidelines, efforts to combat the debilitating and deadly effects of this disease must focus on assuring regular medical diagnosis and adequate treatment.    “Currently, there are no preventive measures or cure for asthma; however, people who have asthma can still lead quality, productive lives if they control their disease.  Asthma can be controlled by taking medication, learning how to manage stress, recognizing and monitoring conditions, following a health plan, and avoiding contact with environmental “triggers”.  

As reported by the National Institute of Health (2005) “children with chronic disease and their families have a long-term responsibility for self-management of their health.”  The Institute also points out that “health care providers may underestimate the complexity of the child and family needs related to personal responsibility and self-management actions” and fail to provide them adequate information.   Breathing Association data shows that while families often report at intake that they are overwhelmed by the processes required to care for a child with asthma, once they have acquired the skills needed for self-management and understand how to access services, they are usually able and more than willing to take the steps required for responsible and on-going self-management. (85% of clients who participate in our program report they have removed one or more barriers to care and improved their health status as a result of the services provided.)