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HHT Presentation: Asthma in Maine
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Transcript of HHT Presentation: Asthma in Maine
Today’s Agenda• What is Asthma
• Asthma and Healthy Homes
• Why Asthma is a Concern in Maine
Asthma is:
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that may cause:
Wheezing Breathlessness Chest tightness Night-time or early morning coughing
Pathology of Asthma
Source: “What You and Your Family Can Do About Asthma” by the Global Initiative For Asthma Created and funded by NIH/NHLBI, 1995
Normal Asthma
Asthma involves inflammation of the airways
Asthma in Maine(BRFSS Data)
•Maine has the 3rd highest adult current asthma rate in the US at 10.3%. Nat’l avg. 8.5%
•Maine’s current child asthma rate is 9.4%. Nat’l avg. 9%.
•In 2000, Maine’s current adult asthma rate was 8.9% - highest in the US. Nat’l avg. 7.2%.
Asthma Prevalence DowneastAdults
Asthma Disparities in the U.S. Low-income populations, minorities, and children living
in inner cities experience more ED visits, hospitalizations, and deaths due to asthma than the general population.1
The burden of asthma falls disproportionately on non-Hispanic black, American Indian/Alaskan Native and some Hispanic (i.e., Puerto Rican) populations.2, 3
Adults and children on MaineCare have higher asthma prevalence than individuals with other types of insurance.
1Lieu TA et al. Racial/Ethnic Variation in Asthma Status and Management Practices Among Children in Managed Medicaid. Pediatrics 2002; 109:857–865.
2National Center for Health Statistics. Health data for all ages http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/health_data_for_all_ages.htm.
3Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and National Pharmaceutical Council. Ethnic Disparities in the Burden and Treatment of Asthma. Reston, 2005.
Risk Factors for Developing Asthma
Genetic characteristics Occupational exposures Environmental exposures
A Public Health Response to Asthma: Environmental Interventions
Help people create and maintain healthy home, school, and work environments.
Environmental interventions may consist of:› Assessments to identify
asthma triggers › Education on how to
remove asthma triggers› Remediation to remove
asthma triggers
Indoor Environmental Asthma Triggers
• Oil & Wood heat - fumes, dust, smoke• Old Homes - dust and mold• Odors from cleaning products • Fumes from Furniture and Carpets• Cockroaches/Pests – feces & shell material• Pets: fur, hair & dander• Personal scents – perfume & cologne• Secondhand smoke
Other Asthma TriggersAir pollution
Trees, grass, and weed pollen
A Public Health Response to Asthma: School
A leading chronic disease cause of school absence
Common disease addressed by school nurses
Affects teachers, administrators, nurses, coaches, students, bus drivers, after school program staff, maintenance personnel
A Public Health Response to Asthma: What can make asthma worse in the school?
Mold and mildew Animals in classroom Carpeted classrooms Cockroaches Poor air quality
Summary: A Public Health Response to Asthma
Asthma is a complex disease that is not yet preventable or curable.
Asthma can be managed with medication, environmental changes, and behavior modifications.
By working together, we can ensure that people with asthma enjoy a high quality of life.
Maine Asthma Program Contacts
Jim Braddick - 287-7302
Desi-Rae Severson – 287- 3041
http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/bohdcfh/mat/