Leading Health Organizations Shine Spotlight on Asthma
by Anonymous

May 14, 2004 -- The timing is right. May is Clean Air month, and air quality is just one trigger for people with asthma. Others triggers include upper respiratory infections, allergies, irritants like smoke and other air quality issues, weather conditions, exercise and emotion.

New data released by the Minnesota Department of Health show that many Minnesota children with asthma are going undiagnosed. Some who have been diagnosed are not receiving appropriate care. Richard Sveum a physician at Park Nicollet Clinic, Asthma and Allergic Disease Department and Clinical Professor at the University of Minnesota explains that "Asthma is controllable, if you take care of it. If not, it will control you and limit your activities. Nobody should have persistent asthma symptoms. If you need to use your inhaler more than twice a week you should be visiting your doctor and go to the next level for managing your asthma."

Just this week, the Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco released a new strategic plan identifying future efforts to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke, and smoking bans are being considered in Minneapolis, Moorhead and Saint Paul. Second-hand smoke is strongly linked to the development of asthma in young children. It is also a known trigger of asthma attacks in both adults and children. Diane Mandernach, Minnesota Commissioner of Health, states that "The evidence clearly shows that smoking is contributing to the problem of asthma in Minnesota, we cannot emphasize strongly enough how important it is for adults never to smoke around children and for young people never to start smoking."

A wide range of resources and information are available to assist in children and parents to learn more about asthma and asthma management at the asthma information center www.alamn.org/InfoCenter/. If you want to have a live conversation with a qualified health care provider, call the American Lung Association of Minnesota Call Center 1-800-548-8252 a 24 hour a day resource that will provide you with immediate, clear, and accurate information at no cost.




This article courtesy of http://www.worldasthma.org. You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact.

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