Irritants in the air including smoke from cigarettes, wood fires, or charcoal grills can cause asthma symptoms to appear. Also, strong fumes or odors like household sprays, paint, gasoline, perfumes, and scented soaps can be an irritant and can aggravate inflamed, sensitive airways.

Respiratory infections such as colds, flu, sore throats, and sinus infections may cause asthma symptoms.

Exercise, especially in cold air, can be a frequent asthma trigger. A form of asthma called exercise-induced asthma is triggered by physical activity. Symptoms of this kind of asthma may not appear until after several minutes of sustained exercise. When symptoms appear sooner than this, it usually means that the person needs to adjust his or her treatment.

Other types of exertions can bring on asthma symptoms including laughing, crying, holding one’s breath, and hyperventilating (rapid, shallow breathing). When you experience strong emotions, your breathing changes — even if you don’t have asthma. When a person with asthma laughs, yells, or cries hard, natural airway changes may cause wheezing or other asthma symptoms.

Weather such as dry wind, cold air, or sudden changes in weather can sometimes bring on an asthma episode.

Some medications like aspirin can also be related to episodes in adults who are sensitive to aspirin.

• Air conditioning. Many airborne triggers can be captured in the filter of an air conditioning unit. If air conditioning every room is not an option for you, a single unit in your bedroom would probably be the best alternative. Be sure filters are changed regularly.
• Heating. If your home or apartment has forced-air heating, put a filter or a piece of cheesecloth over each vent to help trap airborne particles. Again, change these filters regularly.
• Dust control. Heavy drapes, upholstered furniture, thick rugs, and decorative items are major dust collectors. Try to choose furnishing that can be cleaned easily: vinyl or leather couches, washable lampshades, mini-blinds, and wood or vinyl flooring. Put your favorite decorations in glass-fronted cases or shadow boxes.
• Bedding. Choose pillows with Dacron, foam, or other synthetic fillings. Cover your mattress and box spring with allergen-proof covers, and use washable cotton or synthetic bedding. Wash bedding at least once a week in 130ºF water, which is the “HOT” button on most washers. Avoid dust ruffles, which, as their name implies, tend to collect dust and dust mites.
• Prevent mold. Keep bathrooms clean and dry; use a fan or dehumidifier. Check food regularly for spoilage. Dry freshly laundered clothes promptly. Remove houseplants, since moist potting soil is a haven for mold.
• Pets. Unfortunately, animal dander and saliva are potent allergens. Therefore, at least make your bedroom a “pet-free- zone.”
• Pest control. Pests, particularly dust mites and cockroaches, can represent significant asthma triggers.
• Strong odors. Cigarette smoke and strong odors from perfumes, air fresheners, household cleaners, and other sources can be severely irritating. Limit smoking to the outdoors or to specific rooms, and rooms, and avoid use of strong-smelling cleaners or cosmetics.

Excepted from Fresh AAir™ a publication of the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America

Returning to the classroom with asthma and allergies requires planning. The beginning of the school year is stressful for most healthy children and their parents. But if your child has asthma or allergies, the anticipation of the coming school year becomes just a bit more nerve-racking. It does not have to be that way. With some preparation and organization, you and your kids can have a problem-free year.

Triggers inside and outside the classroom are everywhere. Rugs or carpeting can collect dirt, dust mites, and chalk dust. Furry animals in kindergarten class are cute but problematic. Rigorous sports may exert your student. Then there are bees on the playground, freshly mowed grass, trees and weeds outside a classroom, and chemical odors used for cleaning the building and treating the lawn. For children with food allergies, the cafeteria presents a problem, so do the bag lunches friends bring to school and the treats sent by other parents. Mold can grow in gym lockers and shower stalls, as well as in the classrooms themselves. Any of these allergens and irritants can send a child with allergies or asthma into a full-blown reaction.

You cannot be in control of everything children will be exposed to at school, but there are several basic steps you can take before the bell rings to ensure their health:

• Be sure your child’s medical information is complete, up-to-date, and in a form that is easily understandable by the school staff.
• Hand in a Student Asthma Action Card which lists daily medications, symptoms, and emergency plans. Emphasize the fact that staff members should not wait to contact a parent before taking emergency steps. Make sure the physical education teacher or coach has a copy.
• Attach your child’s picture to the Asthma Action Card.
• Ask your doctor for a letter you can present to the school indicating which allergies and irritants can cause problems for your child
• Your child’s name and the dosage should be attached to every medication.
• Set up appointments to meet with the school nurse, your child’s teacher, including the physical education teacher, and even the principal at a time when the schools staff are not too busy.
• If your child has food allergies, you will want to speak to the cafeteria staff about food choices or special accommodations. You should be clear and concise about the seriousness of the allergy, what your child is allergic to, and what can be done to ensure safety. It may help the staff if a picture of your child is posted in the kitchen.
• Speak to your own children about their responsibility to take medications or not take food from other kids. Even at an early age, it is critical that your children begin to identify symptoms and learn to ask for help.

LAC+USC Medical Center’s Breathmobile® Participates in “EIB Active” Campaign with Celebrity Nanny Jo Frost to Educate Families About Asthma and Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm (EIB)

Los Angeles, CA - LAC+USC Medical Center Breathmobile® joins forces with Celebrity Nanny and parenting guru Jo Frost to educate families on EIB and the importance of remaining healthy and active despite the diagnosis. EIB Active, a national health campaign started in 2010 was created to raise awareness about asthma and exercise induced bronchospasm. EIB is a breathing condition that is estimated to affect some 30 million people in the United States and is a treatable condition that causes wheezing, coughing and chest tightness during or immediately following exercise or physical activity.

The LAC+USC Breathmobile® unit will participate in a second stop multi-city tour for EIB Active on Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at St. Michael’s Catholic School located at 1027 West 87th Street, Los Angeles, CA. 90044. The mobile unit will provide basic asthma screenings and educational materials and resources for families.

Celebrity nanny and parenting guru, Jo Frost, who was diagnosed with both asthma and EIB at the age of five years, will also visit the school to speak with the families and school administrators about asthma and EIB, and share her personal experience and triumph with effectively managing the condition.

Lyne Scott, MD, Director of the Los Angeles Breathmobile® and Chief of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at LAC+USC Medical Center indicates that the mobile unit plans to establish an agreement with St. Michael’s in early February to begin providing routine screenings and treatment to their students aboard their Breathmobile® unit, with follow-up care to commence every 6-8 weeks.

The Breathmobile® an “asthma clinic on wheels,” provides diagnosis, treatment, medications and education for children with asthma and allergies at their school site. The project was developed in partnership with the California Chapter of the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America and Los Angeles County+USC to address the rising morbidity rates of asthma in high risk disadvantaged children. Evaluation studies of the Breathmobile® have demonstrated dramatic improvement for patients treated on the Breathmobile® including: fewer emergency room visits, improved pulmonary function, a decrease in school absenteeism and an improved quality of life.

The LAC+USC Breathmobile® Program which began some 15 years ago in November 1995, has treated over 10,000 children and have successfully documented that 80% of children receiving care in their program attain well-controlled asthma by their third visit to the Breathmobile®.

Founded in 1878, Los Angeles County LAC+USC Healthcare Network (LAC+USC) is the nation’s largest academic institution. It is one of the largest acute care hospitals in America and has been the primary facility of the University of Southern California School of Medicine since 1885. As the largest single provider of healthcare in the County, LAC+USC provides the community with more than 28 percent of its trauma care.

The Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America – California Chapter serves as the premiere organization dedicated to controlling asthma and allergic diseases for millions of sufferers through education, medical research and increasing public awareness of the severity of asthma and allergic diseases.

For more information on EIB Active™ please visitwww.Breathmobile®.org to learn more about the Breathmobile® Program.

All of us here at AAFA are excited to welcome back one of our favorite people – Zachery Scott. Zachery rejoins AAFA after three years of work with the Peace Corps, serving as a Community Health Volunteer in rural Mozambique. While he was there, Zach helped build pre-schools and managed public health interventions in the countryside. He returns to AAFA excited to work again with children in the community and with a global perspective on the importance of health and wellness.

Today Zach is responsible for directing our Camp NoMoWheezin’ program as well as the upcoming AirPower Games, so come out and support our kids and be sure to say hello!

Click here for more info on our Programs or send Zach an email.