Asthmatics need to know

Edward Thomas Jr.'s experience is not unlike that of the 1.3 million children nationwide who have asthma, according to the American Academy of
Pediatrics. And the North Bellmore 17-year-old is like a total of 15 million
people in the United States who have the same chronic illness, according to
The American Association for Respiratory Care.
Thomas's experience with asthma started fourteen years ago when he was 3.
He thinks the illness "just popped up out of the blue," but his father has a
different viewpoint.
Edward Thomas Sr., said that when his son was younger he had frequent
respiratory infections and numerous bouts of pneumonia. The family's general
practitioner was the first to diagnosis the young man with asthma and referred the family to a pulmonary specialist.
That led to multiple inhalers being prescribed for Edward over the years. The Mepham High School senior has had five varieties of inhalers since they were first prescribed. These days he carries one inhaler with him at all times and uses a total of three.
Albuterol is his fast-acting inhaler. "Take a puff, and I am usually fine," he said. Azmacourt, the second in his medicine chest,is taken regularly, when he wakes each morning. The third in his cabinet is Servent, he said. "It opens my lungs and keeps the gunk from building up."
Edward Sr., said his son's asthma medication costs the family about $60 a
year in insurance co-payments. Seven years ago, $6 billion was spent by
asthmatics on hospitalizations, doctors' visits and medications, according to
the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
Along with doctors' visits, the Thomases took several proactive steps to manage their son's asthma. Making their home dust free was a priority. They
pulled up the existing carpet and installed air filters throughout the house.
Additionally, air purifiers were installed to keep the dust circulating.
The director of Adolescent Services at the Asthma and Allergy Foundation
of America offers similar advice to families of asthmatic children. Renee Theodorakis said that environmental triggers play a large role in childhood
asthma.
"Treatment for asthma requires a complicated regimen," she said. "If your
child's asthma flares due to exposure to pets, dust, grass or other environmental allergies, lifestyle changes are necessary."
      In addition to the physical problems asthmatics encounter, Theodorakis said, the ailment can also bring societal issues for the sufferer to deal with.
      "What happens when you are watching a video in school and somebody says, 'I can't hear,' because somebody is breathing too loudly," Theodorakis asked rhetorically, alluding to children becoming stigmatized because of their condition.
For that reason, she suggested asthmatics and their families attend group meetings. Support for Asthmatic Youth (S.A.Y.) is one Long Island group that meets at the North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset. The group, open to parents and children ages 8 to 17, offers education about asthma, with the emphasis not so much on medication and what causes the attacks, said Theodorakis.
       "It's more about how asthma affects people's lives and how they can improve their quality of life," she said.
"You need to be in an environment where people have been there before
you," she said. "No purpose is served when parents sit around and say how
many medications their children are taking."
Theodorakis mentioned one study she read that indicated asthma was not an
equal-opportunity chronic illness. Research indicated that the incidence of
asthma is higher among blacks than whites, she said.
Dr. Winston Cobbs, a pulmonary specialist, said that two reasons
possibly could explain the higher incidence of asthma in blacks than whites.
"Inadequate treatment and medical care could be a factor, " said Cobbs, who
is on staff at Franklin Hospital Medical Center in Valley Stream. Another
factor is unfavorable air quality that is common in crowded urban settings,"
he said.
Maternal cigarette smoking is yet another factor that increases the rate
of asthma in children, said Cobbs. "Maternal smoking is a huge factor."

Tips on living with Asthma

The American Association for Respiratory Care (www.aarc.org) offers a
number of tips that can help people live a more active life despite having
asthma.

- Seek qualified medical attention:

Get a treatment plan designed just for you -- everybody's asthma is
different.
Be sure you understand the plan; if it is not clear, ask questions.

- Understand your medications:

Asthma treatment plans often include several medications.
Make sure you know which medication to reach for in an emergency.

- Avoid your asthma triggers:

Take steps to avoid irritants your lungs are sensitive to -- that may
mean giving away a pet, avoiding smoky rooms, or staying indoors on smoggy
days.
Consult your doctor or respiratory therapist for more information on
common asthma triggers and how to avoid them.

- Maintain good general health:

Eat healthy foods.
Drink plenty of fluids.
Exercise regularly.

- Take control during asthma episodes when they happen:

Do not try to ignore an asthma episode, hoping it will just go away.
Use the medication your doctor prescribed to keep the episode from
becoming any worse; if it does not work, contact your doctor or a local
emergency clinic immediately.

Activities and meetings

      The American Liver Foundation is sponsoring a fundraising walk at
9:15 a.m. Sunday, April 29. The 3.1-mile walk will start and finish on the
Jones Beach Boardwalk. To request a sponsor sign-up sheet and to register,
call (212) 943-1059 ext. 15 or (631) 424-2555 ext. 15. ... The American
Red Cross in Nassau County is offering its Adult CPR course at 9 a.m.
Saturday, March 31, at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy in Old
Bethpage. Call (516) 747-3500 ext. 230 for information. ... Hillside
Hospital, of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, is
sponsoring programs that recognize April as National Stress Awareness month.
For information, call (718) 470-8241. ...(B) Franklin Hospital Medical
Center's Pastoral Care Committee will hold its annual conference at 9
a.m. Wednesday, April 18. Call (516) 256-6050 to register. ... The Mental
Health Association of Nassau County seeks volunteers to spend time with
people who are lonely and isolated because of mental illness. Call (516)
489-2322 for an application. Mercy Medical Center in Rockville
Centre established a "Safe Haven" program that will accept any newborn and
the mother who need care. The 24-hour, 7-days-a-week program says that no
questions will be asked. For more information, call (516) 705-1612.