Asthma Initiative
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What is Asthma? |
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Fulton County's Asthma Initiative -- TEACH |
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Asthma Facts |
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Asthma is a disease that affects your lungs. It is the most common long-term disease of children. It causes repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. It is with you all the time, but you may have asthma attacks only when something bothers your lungs.
Asthma attacks are not all the same—some are worse than others. In a severe asthma attack, the airways can close so much that not enough oxygen gets to vital organs. This condition is a medical emergency. People can die from severe asthma attacks.
If you have asthma, you should see your doctor regularly. You will need to learn what things cause your asthma symptoms and how to avoid them. Your doctor will also prescribe medicines to keep your asthma under control.
Taking care of your asthma is an important part of your life. Controlling it means working closely with your doctor to learn what to do, staying away from things that bother your airways, taking medicines as directed by your doctor, and monitoring your asthma so that you can respond quickly to signs of an attack. By controlling your asthma every day, you can prevent serious symptoms and take part in all activities.
If your asthma is not well controlled, you are likely to have symptoms that can make you miss school or work and keep you from doing things you enjoy. Asthma is one of the leading causes of children missing school.
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Fulton County's Asthma Initiative - TEACH
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In Georgia, it is estimated that 212,000 children age 17 and under have asthma and that asthma is the primary diagnosis of children taken to emergency rooms and is the leading cause of school absenteeism.
The incidence of asthma attacks in Fulton is even greater given that metro Atlanta has been named the “Asthma Capital of the Nation” by Respiratory/Allergy Association.
Specific asthma statistics for Fulton are as follows:
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15.8% of public middle school students have asthma. (2001 data)
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7.6% of adults aged 18 years and older have asthma.(2000-2001)
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There are approximately 1,200 hospitalizations for asthma in Fulton County, GA. (1999-2000)
- Hospital charges total approximately $10 million annually. (1999-2000)
- Every year approximately 17 persons die because of asthma.
In May 2007, the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness introduced a new health initiative in order to combat this chronic disease, TEACH - Together Educating Asthmatic Children on Health. Efforts will focus on educating asthmatics and their parents on the dangers of asthma and provide interventions in the home that can reduce the chances of an asthma attack. Two major efforts were conducted during this first phase:
In Home Assessments
Certain triggers can cause an asthma attack. An in–home assessment can be requested to have the house checked for triggers such as mattress covers, pollen, mold and mildew, rodents, and cockroaches. Should a trigger be identified, referral services will be made to correct the issue/s.
Smoking cessation Workshops
Because smoking is a major asthma trigger, smoking cessation workshops will be offered throughout the county to assist parents and care givers in their efforts to quit smoking. We know that family history contributes to susceptibility, but in most cases we don't know what causes asthma to develop, and we don't know how to cure asthma.
General Advice on Asthma Control
Beyond these specific efforts, TEACH offers the following guidance on dealing with asthma -- given the large numbers of children and adults
Who struggle with the condition in Atlanta/Fulton. Family history contributes to susceptibility but, in most cases, it is not clear what causes asthma to develop nor how to cure it. But, asthma patients and their families can try the following:
When asthmatics control their asthma, they won't have symptoms like wheezing or coughing; they will sleep better; they won't miss work or school; they will be able to take part in most physical activities; and they won't have to make frequent visits to hospital emergency rooms.
For more information on the Asthma Initiative, call (404) 730-1243. |
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In USA:
- In 2001, 20.3 million Americans had asthma, and 12 million had an asthma attack in the previous year. If a person has a parent with asthma, he or she is three to six times more likely to develop asthma than is a person who does not have a parent with asthma.
- Asthma accounts for 14 million lost days of school missed annually.
- Asthma is the third-ranking cause of hospitalization among those younger than 15 years of age.
The number of children dying from asthma increased almost threefold from 93 in 1979 to 266 in 1996.
- The estimated cost of treating asthma in those younger than 18 years of age is $3.2 billion per year.
In Georgia:
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13.1% of public middle school students have asthma (2001 data).
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10.7% of public high school students have asthma (2001 data).
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6.7% of adults aged 18 years and older have asthma (2000-2001).
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Asthma causes approximately 9,400 hospitalizations every year (1999-2000).
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Hospital bills total approximately $59 million annually (1999-2000).
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Every year approximately 120 persons die because of asthma.
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Despite the fact that cigarette smoking may trigger asthma attacks, 26.3% of adults with asthma, 24.7% of high school students with asthma, and 11.6% of middle school students with asthma currently smoke.
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A significant number of people with asthma (22.3%) were unable to see a doctor because of cost.
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