Asthma in Our Community http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community Mon, 04 Feb 2013 21:13:39 +0000 en hourly 1 Flu is Harder Hitting this Season http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/flu-is-harder-hitting-this-season/ http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/flu-is-harder-hitting-this-season/#comments Mon, 04 Feb 2013 21:13:39 +0000 admin http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/?p=314 According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), flu activity is hitting the country worse this season than it did last season. The flu epidemic is widespread and peaking in some parts of the country. Hospital rooms in the Northeast have been flooded with patients with flu-like symptoms. Because of the flu epidemic in Boston, a public health emergency was declared on January 9th by the mayor of Boston. Although the CDC reports that the vaccine is only 62% effective, it is still the best method to help prevent the flu. CDC Director Thomas Frieden, MD, MPH advises Americans who have yet to receive the flu vaccine to do so.

If your child has asthma, you need to take steps to prevent them from getting the flu. Influenza is more serious for asthmatics because it can often lead to pneumonia and acute respiratory disease. Getting vaccinated for the flu is the first and most important step that can be taken to protect yourself and your loved one.

 

Christopher P. Christie, MPH, CRT, AE-C

Source: www.cdc.gov

 

 

]]> http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/flu-is-harder-hitting-this-season/feed/ 0 Exercise Induced Asthma (EIA) http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/exercise-induced-asthma-eia/ http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/exercise-induced-asthma-eia/#comments Thu, 20 Dec 2012 15:53:01 +0000 admin http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/?p=301 Full participation in physical activity is encouraged for everyone. But what if the physical activity your child loves causes their asthma to flare up? Asthma is a chronic disease of the lungs that is not caused by exercise but can be triggered by exercise. Up to 90 percent of asthmatics have experienced exercise-induced asthma (EIA). When engaging in physical activity, you typically breathe through your mouth as opposed to breathing through your nose. Breathing through your nose allows the air you breathe in to be filtered and humidified before reaching your lungs. When you’re engaging in a physical activity and you breathe through your mouth, the air is unfiltered, cold, & dry. This cold dry air inhaled during physical activity is more likely to trigger your child’s asthma.

Symptoms of EIA include shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing. Symptoms usually begin a few minutes after starting the physical activity and can last for up to one hour after the activity stops. If your child experiences EIA, ensure that they take their quick relief medication (e.g. Albuterol, ProAir, Xopenex) 15 to 20 minutes before engaging in any physical activity. This treatment usually last for four to six hours and can also be used to relieve symptoms that flare up during exercise. In addition, you can protect your child’s nose and mouth from cold air by having them wear a mask that can be worn during outdoor sports when the air is cold.

Christopher P. Christie, MPH, CRT, AE-C

References

Center for Diseases and Control and Prevention (2012). Retrieved from www.cdc.gov/asthma/

]]> http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/exercise-induced-asthma-eia/feed/ 0 May is Ashtma Awareness Month http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/may-is-ashtma-awareness-month/ http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/may-is-ashtma-awareness-month/#comments Wed, 30 May 2012 13:21:28 +0000 admin http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/?p=294 Improving asthma in the community is something that parents and health care professionals share a common interest in. The goal of the community is to improve health outcomes and the quality of life for our children. Increasing the awareness’ that asthma is a chronic disease is the first step. The second step is getting involved in local and community resources that can increase your asthma knowledge.  Attending a free asthma workshop at Wolfson Children’s Hospital is one way to tremendously increase your knowledge about your child’s asthma. Below is our schedule please call to reserve your seat.

Upcoming Community Asthma Workshop Schedule

Saturdays from 11 A.M. until 1 P.M

AND

Wednesdays from 6 P.M until 8 P.M

Wolfson Children’s Hospital

Howard Building

  Suite 315

Wednesday Evening Classes Saturday Morning Classes
6pm – 8pm 11am – 1pm
July 18, 2012

August 15, 2012

September 19, 2012

October 17, 2012

November 14, 2012

December 19, 2012

 July 21, 2012

August 18, 2012

September 22, 2012

October 20, 2012

November 17, 2012

December 22, 2012

Gift card, spacer, and pillow case covering provided to each family.

]]> http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/may-is-ashtma-awareness-month/feed/ 0 Second Hand Smoke: An Asthma Trigger http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/second-hand-smoke-an-asthma-trigger/ http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/second-hand-smoke-an-asthma-trigger/#comments Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:40:18 +0000 admin http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/?p=289 Everyone knows smoking is a bad idea. And breathing in someone else’s secondhand smoke is hazardous to your child’s health. Secondhand smoke, also known as Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS), is a combination of the smoke from a burning cigarette, cigar or pipe and the smoke exhaled from a smoker’s lungs. Second hand smoke is especially harmful to the lungs of a child with asthma and is a powerful trigger of asthma symptoms.

Listed below are just a few of the known health effects of second hand smoke for children:

  • Secondhand smoke may cause children to develop asthma and more likely  to get pneumonia, bronchitis and poor lung function
  • Children with asthma who are exposed to secondhand smoke have a higher risk for asthma attacks because their airways are overly sensitive.
  • Children who breathe secondhand smoke can have more frequent and more severe sthma attacks.

Do not allow smoking in your home or your car and do not let anyone smoke around you or your child. If you smoke, quit. Quitting isn’t always easy, but there are many programs and methods to help. Seek the support of others who are also trying to quit. You also might ask your doctor about different strategies that can help you crave tobacco less.

Christopher P. Christie, MPH, CRT, AE-C

Source: www.epa.gov

]]> http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/second-hand-smoke-an-asthma-trigger/feed/ 0 This is the Year to Manage your Child’s Asthma! http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/this-is-the-year-to-manage-your-child%e2%80%99s-asthma/ http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/this-is-the-year-to-manage-your-child%e2%80%99s-asthma/#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:06:57 +0000 admin http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/?p=282 Make 2012 the year you discover how to effectively control your child’s asthma!  Let us help!  Attend one of our asthma workshops with your children and learn how to manage your child’s asthma while they have fun learning about this chronic disease too!

 

What will the children do?  Children attend a two hour workshop and will learn through fun and games; they will make marshmallow airways, play charades, go on a trigger hunt and practice spacer technique then we will review with a trivia game complete with prizes!  Making asthma fun makes asthma management easier!

 

What will the parents do?  Parents attend a two hour in-depth presentation and discussion facilitated by an Asthma Educator in an environment conducive to learning and in the company of other families dealing with similar issues…knowing you are not alone is very comforting!  Parents will be given all the tools they need to manage their child’s asthma including a workbook, allergy proof pillow case, and a spacer with carrying case. Parents will leave feeling more equipped to manage their child’s asthma, feel supported by other parents as well as The Community Asthma Partnership.  

 

For dates and times, please see our calendar and register for a class today!

 

Louisa Gallagher, RN, AE-C

]]> http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/this-is-the-year-to-manage-your-child%e2%80%99s-asthma/feed/ 0 STOP the flu…get your shot today! http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/stop-the-flu%e2%80%a6get-your-shot-today/ http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/stop-the-flu%e2%80%a6get-your-shot-today/#comments Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:36:35 +0000 admin http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/?p=253 It’s time to protect yourself and your children from the dreaded flu!  Many pharmacies are now offering free or reduced cost vaccinations.

 

The pharmacies listed below will provide flu vaccinations to adults and children, the price listed is the self pay rate or most insurance plans are accepted without an out of pocket cost, call desired location for details (go to the listed website to find the closest location and phone number).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Duval County Immunization Center – The flu vaccine is free for children with an immunization record and $20.00 for adults. 

              5220 North Pearl Street 
              Jacksonville, Fl 32208
              (904) 253-1420

 

Protecting your asthmatic child  from the flu is one of the best ways to reduce asthma attacks and missed school days this flu season; so go ahead, get to your favorite pharmacy and stop the flu in its tracks!

 

Louisa Gallagher RN, AE-C

]]> http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/stop-the-flu%e2%80%a6get-your-shot-today/feed/ 0 Avoiding “September Peak’ http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/avoiding-%e2%80%9cseptember-peak%e2%80%99/ http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/avoiding-%e2%80%9cseptember-peak%e2%80%99/#comments Wed, 14 Sep 2011 17:20:24 +0000 admin http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/?p=249 When children return to school they are exposed to more respiratory viruses from classmates, triggering asthma symptoms. The result is often an increase in the number of asthma attacks and hospital visits during the third week in September, phenomena that is referred to as the ‘September Peak’.

It is a good idea to visit your doctor to review your child’s Asthma Action Plan before school starts. It is also important that the school be aware that your child has asthma and that your child’s medications must be readily available to deal with any change in symptoms.

For those with both hay-fever and asthma, this can be a very trying time. Avoid triggers if possible. Hay-fever season ends with the first good frost. Meanwhile outdoor mold is thriving due to rain combined with falling leaves and other debris. Ask that the classroom windows be kept closed and that any school pets be kept out of the classrooms.

Parents of kids who are allergic to both mold and fall pollen, such as ragweed, should monitor their child’s symptoms closely and take preventative action.

What can you do? Schedule an appointment with your child’s doctor to get their flu shot and to review their written asthma action plan. Employ avoidance strategies such as ensuring that your child takes their controller medicine as prescribed and ensure that their quick relief inhaler is available for use should warning signs occur.

]]> http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/avoiding-%e2%80%9cseptember-peak%e2%80%99/feed/ 0 We want to hear from our asthma community! http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/we-want-to-hear-from-our-asthma-community/ http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/we-want-to-hear-from-our-asthma-community/#comments Mon, 18 Jul 2011 13:48:46 +0000 admin http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/?p=240 We at The Community Asthma Partnership at Wolfson LOVE to educate the community on all things asthma, but we want to be sure that what we are doing is convenient for you and your family!

 

We offer a monthly asthma workshop for parents and children at our office in the Howard Building at Baptist Hospital Downtown and would like your feedback on the location and time of the class.

 

  1. Is the downtown location convenient for you?  If not, where would be a more convenient location?  Would libraries, community centers, neighborhood schools or somewhere else be more convenient? 

  2. The class is offered on the 3rd Saturday of each month from 9 am to 11 am.  Is that a suitable time for you?  If not, when would be a more convenient time?  Would weekday evenings be better (i.e. Monday evenings from 6pm to 8pm)? 

  3. Is childcare an obstacle to you attending the workshop?
     

Your feedback is very important to us as we strive to serve the asthma community in Jacksonville by providing services that are both beneficial and convenient to our community!  Please leave your feedback below. 

]]> http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/we-want-to-hear-from-our-asthma-community/feed/ 0 Knowing Your Triggers http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/knowing-your-triggers/ http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/knowing-your-triggers/#comments Wed, 08 Jun 2011 19:49:31 +0000 admin http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/?p=170 Identifying your child’s asthma triggers is key to asthma prevention and avoiding problems with their asthma. Paying close attention to when an attack is triggered and what appears to be the most likely cause can help you identify environmental components like mold, dust, or odors and helps you to asthma-proof your home.

In order to determine your child’s asthma triggers, you may need to act like a detective. If your child goes to a neighbor’s house and begins playing with their cat and start wheezing, the cause is fairly obvious.

However, identifying asthma triggers may not always be that easy but doing so will help your child to breathe easier. Asking yourself the following questions may help: 

  1. Do your child’s symptoms occur primarily at home or at school?
  2. Do your child’s symptoms fluctuate with the season? This may indicate a more allergic condition such as an allergic rhinitis or hay fever.  

Asthma triggers may include: 

Indoor triggers   -  e.g. secondhand smoke, dust mites, mold, pets, cockroaches, and other pests

Outdoor triggers  -  e.g. pollens, molds, weather

Foods    -  e.g. fish, shellfish, soy, egg, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts such as walnuts

Respiratory infections  - e.g. common cold, influenza

Medications  - e.g. pain medications – aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen                                

Exercise

Remember, your child’s asthma can be controlled. Asthma should not prevent them from performing any daily activities. Asthmatics should learn and understand what causes their attacks. Make sure your child visits their provider two times a year for follow up and follow three simple steps: 1) know your child’s asthma triggers and try to decrease them. 2) know their meds and when to take them 3) watch their asthma symptoms using a peak flow meter and encourage them to listen to their body.

]]> http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/knowing-your-triggers/feed/ 0 Community Speaker Profile http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/community-speaker-profile/ http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/community-speaker-profile/#comments Tue, 19 Apr 2011 15:07:17 +0000 admin http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/?p=156 Dr. David Shaeffer is a pediatric Pulmonolgist/ Allergist who practices at Nemours children’s hospital in Jacksonville Florida. He is also the Medical Director of Community Asthma Partnership (CAPW), and Pediatric Pulmonary Care. He is very active in the community with increasing awareness about the problems with childhood asthma. When asked what innovative ideas he has about addressing asthma in our community he stated, “the key focus is to improve awareness of the common symptoms of asthma, persistent cough, wheezing and difficulty breathing. This is sometimes misdiagnosed as bronchitis or recurrent pneumonia, but most times if children have wheezing and are treated with albuterol in addition to antibiotics, then in reality what they really have is asthma triggered by an acute respiratory infection. All children should ask their primary physician if they can prescribe a metered-dose inhaler with a spacer. All children should have a written asthma treatment plan. Families should expect that their children’s asthma can be controlled and that their children should not have persistent symptoms of asthma, frequent doctor or hospital visits for asthma, sleep that is interrupted by asthma symptoms, or limited activity due to exercise intolerance from asthma.”

]]> http://www.communityasthmajax.org/community/community-speaker-profile/feed/ 0