DHR urges Georgians to manage their asthma

Every year, approximately 120 Georgians die and 11,200 are hospitalized because of asthma. In observance of Asthma Awareness Month and World Asthma Day May 3, the Georgia Department of Human Resources is taking steps to let people know how to manage their asthma.

“Many Georgians believe that asthma can’t be controlled,” said Stuart Brown, M.D., acting director for the DHR Division of Public Health, “but with proper education and treatment, people can manage their asthma and lead full, active lives. People with asthma should talk to their healthcare provider about creating their own personal asthma self-management plan.”

“There are several ways to help manage asthma, such as taking your asthma medications exactly as your doctor tells you, watching for signs that your asthma is getting worse and acting quickly, and identifying and avoiding triggers,” said Brown. “It’s also important to encourage others close to you to learn about asthma so they know how to help you during an attack.”

To help spread the word, DHR has awarded small grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 to eight of Georgia’s eighteen public health districts. The purpose of the grants is to allow the districts to raise awareness and provide education about asthma in Georgia. The education and awareness activities will target children, minorities, and low-income individuals.

According to the 2003 Georgia Childhood Asthma Survey, approximately 212,000 children in Georgia have asthma. In order to raise awareness about childhood asthma, DHR will partner with the American Lung Association of Georgia, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to host an event for World Asthma Day May 3 at Centennial Elementary School in Atlanta.

“Educating children and parents about common triggers and how to reduce exposure to them will lead to improved health, fewer missed days of school and work, fewer visits to the emergency room, fewer hospital stays, and a better quality of life,” said Carolyn Williams, manager of the DHR Asthma Program.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the lungs and airways that causes recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and coughing. An asthma attack occurs after exposure to a certain substance or situation, commonly known as triggers. Some common asthma triggers include: allergens, such as mold or pollen; irritants, such as tobacco smoke or air pollution; infections of the respiratory system; certain types of exercise; and cold weather. Asthma triggers may vary from person to person.

Asthma Awareness Month and World Asthma Day activities are a part of the recently launched Live Healthy Georgia campaign, an outreach initiative designed to raise awareness about the prevention of chronic diseases and provide Georgians with ideas about ways to live healthier.

For information about asthma, contact the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (www.aafa.org) or the American Lung Association (www.lungusa.org). For more information about the Live Healthy Georgia campaign, visit http://health.state.ga.us. To view The Burden of Asthma in Georgia 2003 and the Strategic Plan for Addressing Asthma in Georgia 2004, visit http://health.state.ga.us/publications/reports.asp.