World Asthma Day
Increasing awareness on controlling asthma
Increasing awareness on controlling asthma
"Asthma is a problem that can be entirely controlled,” says
Dr. Neal Jain, an asthma and allergy specialist from Dean Clinic
and chair of the Wisconsin Asthma Coalition. “Empowering
people to take control of their own asthma is very important and
doable. It comes down to education.”
On May 8, Dr. Neal Jain was on hand, along with notable
Badger football players, yoga instructors, asthma specialists, and
others, to teach area youngsters and their parents how to control
their asthma. The World Asthma Day Celebration at Mendota
Elementary School — organized by the Dane County Asthma
Coalition, in partnership with the Madison Metropolitan School
District —offered lessons on healthy eating, yoga instruction,
advice on how to reduce asthma triggers in the home, and
asthma-related games and activities.
Badger wide receiver Maurice Moore and tight end Lance
Kendricks talked to students about living with asthma. Both Moore
and Kendricks have asthma and were on hand to let students
know that their illness won’t stop them from anything, including
playing for an elite college football team. “Stay healthy, stay fit,”
Kendricks told the students. “And don’t smoke.”
Students learned yoga; they sampled healthy snacks
Dr. Neal Jain, an asthma and allergy specialist from Dean Clinic
and chair of the Wisconsin Asthma Coalition. “Empowering
people to take control of their own asthma is very important and
doable. It comes down to education.”
On May 8, Dr. Neal Jain was on hand, along with notable
Badger football players, yoga instructors, asthma specialists, and
others, to teach area youngsters and their parents how to control
their asthma. The World Asthma Day Celebration at Mendota
Elementary School — organized by the Dane County Asthma
Coalition, in partnership with the Madison Metropolitan School
District —offered lessons on healthy eating, yoga instruction,
advice on how to reduce asthma triggers in the home, and
asthma-related games and activities.
Badger wide receiver Maurice Moore and tight end Lance
Kendricks talked to students about living with asthma. Both Moore
and Kendricks have asthma and were on hand to let students
know that their illness won’t stop them from anything, including
playing for an elite college football team. “Stay healthy, stay fit,”
Kendricks told the students. “And don’t smoke.”
Students learned yoga; they sampled healthy snacks
| Badger Football players with asthma sign footballs for kids at Mendota Elementary School |
By Laura Salinger
According to the UW Asthma, Allergy &
Pulmonary Research Group, asthma accounts
for an astounding 25 percent of emergency
room visits in the United States. It is the number
one reason that children miss school in this
country, resulting in 20 million lost school days
a year. Asthma is the most common chronic
condition in children, affecting nearly 5 million
young people. Area health organizations and
schools want everyone to know, however, that
asthma does not have to change their lives and
limit their abilities. Asthma does not need to
control those afflicted; rather they can control
it.
According to the UW Asthma, Allergy &
Pulmonary Research Group, asthma accounts
for an astounding 25 percent of emergency
room visits in the United States. It is the number
one reason that children miss school in this
country, resulting in 20 million lost school days
a year. Asthma is the most common chronic
condition in children, affecting nearly 5 million
young people. Area health organizations and
schools want everyone to know, however, that
asthma does not have to change their lives and
limit their abilities. Asthma does not need to
control those afflicted; rather they can control
it.
Information booths give information about
controlling asthma.
controlling asthma.
| Activities featured in this event include jumping rope. |
sponsored by UW-Extension; they jumped rope at a jump rope station; viewed healthy lungs and a smoker’s lungs;
and played the asthma version of bingo-Lungo. They also learned the difference between controlled and
uncontrolled asthma.
Dr. Jain says that currently around 30 to 60 percent of asthma cases are uncontrolled. Yet, with proper medical
care and life practices, up to 95 percent of asthma cases are controllable. Event organizers are hoping that
educational events like World Asthma Day will help narrow that profound gap.
“The fact that so many kids have uncontrolled asthma is a big reason to have this event,” Dr. Jain says.
and played the asthma version of bingo-Lungo. They also learned the difference between controlled and
uncontrolled asthma.
Dr. Jain says that currently around 30 to 60 percent of asthma cases are uncontrolled. Yet, with proper medical
care and life practices, up to 95 percent of asthma cases are controllable. Event organizers are hoping that
educational events like World Asthma Day will help narrow that profound gap.
“The fact that so many kids have uncontrolled asthma is a big reason to have this event,” Dr. Jain says.
Signs that asthma is uncontrolled include flare-ups, difficulty sleeping and engaging in physical activities, and the need for emergency care and
hospitalization. Triggers for asthma include colds, cigarette smoke, exercise, allergies, temperature changes, chemicals and strong smells, and certain
medications. Asthma sufferers were encouraged to take the necessary steps in controlling their asthma. This includes communicating asthma needs, developing
and utilizing an asthma action plan, no smoking, identifying asthma triggers, regular doctor visits, prescription medications, and limited outdoor activity when air
quality advisories are issued.
In Madison schools, 2500 students are afflicted by asthma. Mendota Elementary School has one of the highest numbers of students with asthma. Organizers
want these kids and their parents to know that their quality of life need not be minimized by asthma.
“You should be able to do anything you want to do,” Dr. Jain says. This includes high-level sports. “A lot of elite athletes have asthma and they do just fine.”
Among these athletes are the late Green Bay Packer Reggie White and track Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Other famous people with asthma include the late
President John F. Kennedy, singer Billy Joel, and political leader Rev. Jesse Jackson.
The event at Mendota Elementary School was just one of many events worldwide that recognized World Asthma Day 2009 (May 5). World Asthma Day is an
annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to improve asthma awareness and care around the world. This year’s theme was once again,
“You Can Control Your Asthma.”
Throughout the world, people came together the week of May 5 to educate and empower those afflicted with asthma. In Belguam, India, the Ganesh Health
Consultancy held an educational event and competition for asthma sufferers. The Bangladesh Lung Foundation organized parades through the streets of Dhaka,
Khulna, and Rangpur in an effort to educate the public about asthma and spread positive messages that asthma can be controlled. In Croatia, Theater ZeKaEm
Zagreb performed a children’s play as part of the activities hosted by the Children’s Hospital Srebrnjak. In Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, asthma patients performed a
song at a conference organized by the Respiratory Care Unit at the University Medical Center.
They all want to spread the message that although there is no cure for asthma, there is a way to manage it so that quality of life is preserved.
hospitalization. Triggers for asthma include colds, cigarette smoke, exercise, allergies, temperature changes, chemicals and strong smells, and certain
medications. Asthma sufferers were encouraged to take the necessary steps in controlling their asthma. This includes communicating asthma needs, developing
and utilizing an asthma action plan, no smoking, identifying asthma triggers, regular doctor visits, prescription medications, and limited outdoor activity when air
quality advisories are issued.
In Madison schools, 2500 students are afflicted by asthma. Mendota Elementary School has one of the highest numbers of students with asthma. Organizers
want these kids and their parents to know that their quality of life need not be minimized by asthma.
“You should be able to do anything you want to do,” Dr. Jain says. This includes high-level sports. “A lot of elite athletes have asthma and they do just fine.”
Among these athletes are the late Green Bay Packer Reggie White and track Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Other famous people with asthma include the late
President John F. Kennedy, singer Billy Joel, and political leader Rev. Jesse Jackson.
The event at Mendota Elementary School was just one of many events worldwide that recognized World Asthma Day 2009 (May 5). World Asthma Day is an
annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to improve asthma awareness and care around the world. This year’s theme was once again,
“You Can Control Your Asthma.”
Throughout the world, people came together the week of May 5 to educate and empower those afflicted with asthma. In Belguam, India, the Ganesh Health
Consultancy held an educational event and competition for asthma sufferers. The Bangladesh Lung Foundation organized parades through the streets of Dhaka,
Khulna, and Rangpur in an effort to educate the public about asthma and spread positive messages that asthma can be controlled. In Croatia, Theater ZeKaEm
Zagreb performed a children’s play as part of the activities hosted by the Children’s Hospital Srebrnjak. In Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, asthma patients performed a
song at a conference organized by the Respiratory Care Unit at the University Medical Center.
They all want to spread the message that although there is no cure for asthma, there is a way to manage it so that quality of life is preserved.
Laura Salinger is a
freelance writer
based in Madison,
Wis.
freelance writer
based in Madison,
Wis.