Work-related asthma is asthma that is caused or triggered by conditions or substances in the workplace. There are various occupations within the state of Utah that put people at risk of receiving work-related asthma.  These include and are not limited to animal handlers, farmers, bakers, food processors, and health care workers.

The Asthma Program in Utah recently did a study or report on the prevalence of work-related asthma in Utah and the the overall risk.  Some of the main findings were:

Work-related asthma continues to be a health concern in Utah, especially among those who are exposed to chemicals or other triggers associated with work-related asthma. The Utah Asthma Program has advised that it is important to identify those occupations at high risk for work-related asthma and work to reduce exposures and properly protect individuals from developing work-related asthma.  To learn more, click here.

This is an interesting activity that has been coordinated by the Utah Asthma Program.  The Telehealth series is intended to help keep professionals educated on the newest discoveries in asthma treatment.  Also this program focuses on educating the professionals in helping their asthma patients learn to control their asthma symptoms.  It is important that health professionals that come in contact with asthma patients are aware of the new discoveries in asthma research so that patients receive the best care possible.

The Asthma Telehealth Series has already begun and you can still join today.  On the first Tuesday in May, August, and November from 12-1:00 p.m, professionals interested can participate through a number of communication mediums.  Professionals can reach the education series via video-conference, telephone, and web-streaming.

Here is the tentative schedule:

May 4th: Diagnosing Asthma Severity

August 3rd: Asthma and Air Quality

November 2nd: Childhood vs. Adult Onset Asthma

To participate, professionals need to register online by clicking here.

Asthma is the leading cause of missed school days attributed to a chronic condition, which accounts for more than 12 million missed school days each year.   In Utah, a program called “Open Airways for Schools” has been established to help empower children with asthma who do not know how to manage their asthma properly.

It is a program specifically focusing on school children that are ages 8 to 11 with asthma.   The program helps the children understand how to detect the warning signs of asthma and how to prevent asthma attacks.  Through six, 40 minute lessons taught during or after school, volunteers educators empower children to better manage their asthma through group discussions, stories, games, and role playing.

Parents, if you would like your child to participate in the “Open Airways for Schools” program, please contact the American Lung Association in Utah at 801-484-4456 to see what you can do to help get this program started at your child’s school.

Did you know that nationally up to 15% of athletes have asthma?  That is about one to two players on any given team.  This asthma program is intended to focus on coaches, referees, physical education teachers, and any other person involved with sporting activities.  The Winning with Asthma Program helps teach coaches about asthma, how it affects an athlete’s ability to compete, and how the coach can play a vital role in helping athletes manage their symptoms.

This program has created an online 30 minute educational video (including Utah Jazz  coach Jerry Sloan) to help any athletic coach or P.E. teacher learn about proper asthma medication, ways to prevent exercise-induced asthma, steps to take when athletes experience an asthma attack, etc.  Those who complete the program receive a booklet with additional asthma information and a coach’s clipboard with “What to do during an asthma attack” printed on the back.

Check out the program here

For those that have asthma, whether children or adults, an asthma action plan is essential to prevent worsening of your symptoms and asthma attack.   The key to a successful asthma action plan is to monitor your asthma daily and have the right medication at the right time.  Parents play a critical role in helping their child with their action plan.

No doubt, asthma attacks can be frightening to the victim as well as to parents, friends, people who witness the attack.  An asthma action plan can help you “recognize early warning signs of an asthma attack.”  It can also be used to know when you would need to adjust asthma treatment (medicines), “keep tabs on how well treatment is working”, and know when you would need to seek medical help.

According to MayoClinic.com, you need to include important topics in your plan.  Most action plans include clear and simple instructions on how to:

• Manage your child’s medication
• Track your child’s long-term asthma control
• Recognize and treat an asthma attack
• Take action based on peak flow readings
• Know when to seek emergency care
• Help your child avoid asthma triggers.

Due to the fact that every person with asthma varies in asthma severity, it is important to consult your doctor to make an asthma action plan.  Once you have developed a written action with the doctor, make sure that you give the written plan to those that are socially in contact with the asthma victim.  Asthma action plans is just another way to treat and control one’s asthma.  You can download a sample asthma action plan here.

Children with asthma are at high risk for separation anxiety.  Why? According to Barbara H. Fiese, a professor of human and community development at University of Illinois, “it makes sense that children that have difficulty breathing might be anxious and prefer to keep their parents, who can help them in an emergency, close by.”  But with a new study published by the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, a simple home remedy can be easily implemented-regular family mealtimes.

Fiese said that, “In this study, we identified one important practice that makes a difference. Supportive interaction during family mealtimes helps increase a child’s sense of security and eases separation anxiety symptoms.  And, when children are less anxious, their lung function improves.”    The family plays a critical role in helping children emotionally manage their asthma symptoms.  It is through an organized environment in the home, such as having daily mealtime with family, that children with asthma may put a child at ease.

So parents that have children with asthma, make sure you make it a priority to have daily family mealtime. It will help your child from the negative effects of separation anxiety and will improve their lung function.  To read the whole news article about the study click here.

How does it work?  The therapy allows the medicine to go down into the windpipe, into the bronchial tubes, and delivers a controlled amount of heat to the lining of the windpipe.  The treatment will abstain those muscles from tightening which inevitably cause shortness of breath and wheezing.

The benefits of the therapy is that it is only three treatments with no hospitalization stays.  Asthma symptoms could flare up for 24 hours but within a week their generally gone for good.  A study was done on the new therapy and overall, it proved to be very effective and efficient.

This could very well be a major breakthrough for those with serious asthma.  But there are always risks to be considered with any new treatment.   It is important to do extensive research on this new therapy by visiting its Alair website.

Watch the whole news report from CNN below

It is beginning to feel like spring is finally here!   Although this is exciting news, there must be careful preventative measures taken with those with asthma conditions.  With the upcoming spring season, there have been many questions raised about indoor/outdoor recess time for Utah children at school.  It has come to that season when there is poor air quality caused by inversions that are well known in Salt Lake and Utah County.

In support of the Utah Departments of Health and the Environmental Quality prevention methods, it is important for Utahns to check an online tool that help individuals keep track of the outdoor air quality-the Recess Guidance for Schools.    This tool was developed for the intent to inform school leaders to know when the air quality is bad enough for school children to stay indoor during recess time.

According to DEQ toxicologist, Steven Packham, “The PM2.5 levels are updated hourly for Cache, Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, and Utah Counties.”  Thanks to the Utah Department of Health and the DEQ, they have worked with schools to implement the guidance. “School administrators using the guidance check PM2.5 levels daily. When levels are between 35.5-55.4 ug/m3, ‘sensitive’ students are accommodated indoors. At 55.5-90 ug/m3,, “sensitive” students and those experiencing respiratory symptoms will be accommodated indoors and, at 90 ug/m3 and above, it is recommended that all students be kept inside for recess and sports.”

If your child has any asthma conditions, check the links above to see how the air quality is around your area in Utah.

There are many environmental factors within a home that can cause an asthma attack.  Such “triggers” need to be carefully assessed in the home and need to be removed if possible.  We will go over 3 important household triggers that are preventable in nature.

One important trigger within the home is dust mites.  These dust mites tiny microscopic spiders found in house dust.  Some prevention measures to limit dust mites is avoiding vacuuming or being in a room while it is being vacuumed or wear a dust mask while vacuuming or dusting and during other general household cleaning.  Use airtight covers on your mattress and box spring.   Wash all bedding, clothes, and stuffed toys once a week in hot water.   Washing your children’s stuff toys is a great preventative measure because children are more susceptible to asthma condition.

Another asthma trigger is indoor house mold.  You need to keep your kitchen, basements, and especially your bathrooms well ventilated.  Due to the fact that bathrooms contain a lot of exposure to moisture, mold can easily grow.  It is important that each of your bathrooms has a fan.  Some people do not understand the purpose of a bathroom fan.  It takes the moisture particles in the air after a hot shower or bath, and fans it out of the room.  It is important to leave on the fan for a sufficient amount of time.  Avoid using humidifiers if possible

Another preventable trigger within the home is to not smoke.  If you are a current smoker, your doctor or pharmacist can help you quit.  Do not allow smoking in your home, particularly in your bedroom.  Second-hand smoking is a major risk factor, especially among children.

The Utah Department of Health Asthma Program has recently introduced a new program that will better educate asthma patients.  This program is called the Asthma Care Pharmacies.  The pharmacists that participate on the Utah Asthma Task Force presented a new idea of implementing expanded asthma education at the pharmacy to help patients understand and manage asthma more effectively.  This project will inevitably utilize pharmacists and their skills and knowledge and will allow patients to access additional resources.  The group of pharmacists that presented the idea met with partners that seemed very intrigued by the program and its potential benefits.  This included many other pharmacists, physicians, health plans, and local universities.

The mission of this program is “to assist people with asthma in improving their quality of life by providing the tools and resources necessary to maximize and promote wellness at asthma-friendly pharmacies.”  In line with the guidelines present by The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program, this program focuses on asthma self-management education.  It is essential to provide asthma patients with the skills necessary to control their asthma and improve outcomes.  The basic motives of this program are as follows:

The Asthma-Friendly pharmacy program goes above and beyond what pharmacists are already required to do by:

• Utilizing asthma friendly-pharmacists to provide reinforcement of self-management techniques at regularly scheduled appointments.

• Providing face-to-face, individualized education sessions with the patient. Education will be in a separate counseling area away from the counter to provide privacy. The pharmacist will provide education on the diseases processes, elements of control, inhaler technique and trigger avoidance.

• Pharmacists providing comprehensive education on asthma and continued reinforcement of self-management techniques will assist patients to take personal ownership of their treatment plans.

• Keeping the pharmacist in contact with the physician to provide feedback on the interventions/education provided to the patient.

• Reinforcing education sessions throughout the year at one, three, six, 12 months.

• Pharmacist will be also addressing quality of life issues with each patient.

If you or anyone that you know with any asthma condition would be interested in participating in this program visit the Utah Department of Health Asthma Program website @

http://www.health.utah.gov/asthma/.   This seems like a great opportunity to recieve help in managing and controlling one’s asthma!