Asthma 101: Understand, Prevent, Manage | Insert Your Name

1. Place your agency/organization/group name here Insert your name Insert Date Updated 12/2006

3. Asthma 101 • What is asthma? • Chronic disease of the lungs • Airway obstruction • Airway inflammation • Triggered by a reaction to stimuli • Common Symptoms • Shortness of breath • Coughing • Wheezing • Chest pain or tightness

4. Exercise Induced Asthma (EIA) What is EIA? • Broncho-spastic event during or after physical activity • Causes • Loss of heat and/or water from the lungs during exercise • Hyperventilation of air that is cooler and dryer than that of the respiratory tree • Exercise maybe only trigger for some with asthma

5. Exercise Induced Asthma (EIA) Prevention of EIA • Take medicines as prescribed by your healthcare provider • Warm-up before and cool down after exercise • Limit outdoor exercise on Ozone Action Days, high pollen or mold count days • Wear a scarf over your nose and mouth when exercising in the cold

6. Cost of Asthma • Asthma costs $238,001,000 annually in Indiana1 • Direct = $135, 070,000 • Indirect = $102,931,000 • Children miss 14.7 million school days per year in the US2,3 • Adults miss 11.8 million days of work per year in the US3 1Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 1998; 2Environmental Protection Agency, 2006; and 3Kaiser Permanente, 2005

7. Why should I learn about asthma? • Most common chronic disorder in children1 • Students with asthma miss 7 - 8 more school days per year than their healthy peers2 • 24% of children and 15% of adults with asthma cannot perform daily activities3 • You can… Take CONTROL of asthma! 1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006; 2American Academy of Pediatrics, 2006; and 3Kaiser Permanente, 2005

8. Asthma Management Take CONTROL of asthma! Care for yourself Own and use an asthma action plan Note peak flow numbers Take medicine(s) Reduce exposure to triggers Open airways Live healthy

9. Care for Yourself • Know your body’s reactions • Learn to recognize your warning signs • Take your daily controller medicine(s) • Know laws and regulations that may protect you • Educate those with whom you interact

10. Care for yourselfLaws/Regulations • Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990 • Section 504, Rehabilitation Act, 1973 • Pro-Children Act, 1994

11. Care for yourselfLaws/Regulations • IDEA, 2004 • IC 20-33-8-13Possession and Self-administration of Medication Permitted • FERPA, 2002

12. Own and Use an Asthma Action Plan • Develop an asthma action plan with your provider • Keep a copy for yourself and give a copy to your school or childcare setting

13. Note Peak Flow Numbers • Keeping a peak flow diary will help you predict and prevent asthma attacks • Record peak flow numbers daily, every morning before taking control medicine(s) • Watch for trends in symptoms

14. Take Medicine(s) • Controller medicine(s) • Long-term • Daily • Rescue inhaler • Short-acting inhaled beta2-agonists • Used for quick relief • Get medicine filled • Use medicine as recommended by your healthcare provider

15. Reduce Exposure to Triggers

16. Reduce Exposure to TriggersDust Mites • Vacuum weekly • Wipe wood, leather or vinyl furniture weekly with a damp, soapy cloth • Put dust-proof covers on bed mattress, box spring and pillows • Wash bedding and pillows in hot water weekly • Wash toys in hot water weekly

17. Reduce Exposure to TriggersPests • Put food in sealed containers • Do not leave dirty dishes out • Pick-up food crumbs and clean liquid spills immediately • Sweep and mop the kitchen often • Take out the trash daily • Seal cracks around doors, windows and foundation

18. Reduce Exposure to TriggersPet Dander • No pets in sleeping areas • Vacuum and clean areas where pets live weekly • Consider finding another good home for the pet or keeping the pet outdoors

19. Reduce Exposure to TriggersIndoor Mold • Wipe hard surfaces with a damp, soapy cloth weekly • Repair leaks • Don’t over water plants • Replace absorbent materials, like carpet and ceiling tiles, that have been wet for more than 24 to 48 hours • Vent clothing dryers, showers, and exhaust fans outdoors • Use exhaust fans

20. Reduce Exposure to TriggersOutdoor Pollen and Mold • Limit outdoor activities and keep windows closed when pollen and/or mold counts are high • American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, www.aaaai.org/nab • Use air conditioners • Avoid using wood mulch • Avoid cutting grass if allergic to grass pollen or mold • If you must cut grass use a HEPA filter face mask respirator • Do not dry clothing outside if you are allergic to pollen or mold

21. Reduce Exposure to TriggersTobacco Smoke • Seek help to stop smoking • Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation, www.in.gov/itpc/community.asp • American Lung Association, Freedom from Smoking, 317-819-1181 • Do not smoke or let other people smoke inside your home or car • Do not allow smoking in places where a child spends time (e.g. relative’s home, car, babysitter, etc) • If you must smoke, smoke outside, and wear a “smoking jacket”

22. Reduce Exposure to TriggersAir Pollution • Limit outdoor activities when pollution levels are high • Ozone Action Days • Local newspaper • Check SmogWatch, www.smogwatch.IN.gov • Sign up for automatic notification at the SmogWatch Web site, or call 1-800-631-2871

23. Reduce Exposure to TriggersOdors • Choose products with the lowest VOC content available • Avoid products with strong odors • Store products with strong odors away from living and play areas • Avoid using spray and aerosol products • Limit air freshener and candle use • Use the exhaust fan when using products that release strong odors • Do not perform repairs/renovations that may release strong odors or dust while people are present

24. Reduce Exposure to TriggersWeather • Try to breathe through your nose • Limit physical activity in cold weather • Cover your mouth with a scarf or cold-air mask in cold weather • Limit outdoor exercise on Ozone Action Days, high pollen or mold count days

25. Reduce Exposure to TriggersExercise • Consult with a doctor to design an exercise and asthma management program • Warm-up and cool-down before and after exercise • Limit outdoor exercise on high pollen, mold or pollution counts days • Wear a scarf over your nose and mouth when exercising in the cold

26. Open Airways • Take fast acting reliever medicine (rescue inhaler) • When having an asthma attack • Will open airways

27. Live Healthy • Do activities that promote “good” health • Change your environment • Encourage schools and early care settings to implement asthma prevention activities

28. Live Healthy • Schools • www.doe.state.in.us/sservices/pdf/sn_asthma_awareness_month.pdf • www.schoolasthmaallergy.com/html/toolkit/library/phy_asth.pdf • www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/toolkit.html • Early care settings • www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/asthma/ chc_chk.htm

29. What is asthma? Do children out grow asthma? Asthma is a chronic lung disease. Asthma is a chronic lung disease that never goes away. Symptoms may get less as the person ages. Can I control asthma? Yes. You can take CONTROL of asthma! Is asthma psychological? Can I catch asthma? Asthma is in your lungs. No. You cannot get asthma from anyone.

30. Resources for Asthma • American Lung Association of Indiana, www.lungin.org or 1-800-LUNGUSA • Indiana Chronic Disease Management Program, www.indianacdmprogram.com • Indiana Department of Environmental Management, SmogWatch, www.in.gov/apps/idem/smog • Indiana Family Helpline, 1-800-433-0746 • Indiana State Department of Health Asthma Program, Breatheasyville, www.statehealth.IN.gov/programs/asthma/ breatheasyville/index.html

31. Take CONTROL of asthma!

32. Thank You For more information, contact: Indiana State Department of Health Chronic Disease/Asthma 2 North Meridian Street, 6B Indianapolis, IN 46204 317-233-1325 www.statehealth.IN.gov/programs/asthma (Insert your contact information)