There are lots of things to keep individual asthma symptoms at bay, but what about the larger battle? How do we not only win those skirmishes, but also the war? Well, it might be a conflict we always battle, but there are bills that need your support to be passed so that we may better bring the fight to asthma's doorstep.
(All information directly quoted is from www.aarc.org)
"Respiratory Therapy Initiative HR 3968This key issue for the profession will revise the Medicare law to permit qualified respiratory therapists to provide certain respiratory therapy services, such as smoking cessation, asthma management, MDI device and medication education, while under the general supervision of a physician (e.g. without the physician having to be physically present or on site). A bill, HR 3968, has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Mike Ross (D-AR).
The Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation Act (HR 552 and S. 329)This legislation will mandate that the Medicare Program finally issue a National Coverage Policy for Pulmonary Rehabilitation and end the erratic and consistent policy coverage for this important service.
The Home Oxygen Patient Protection Act of 2007'. (HR 621/S 1484)These bills will repeal the current Medicare provision that requires Medicare beneficiaries to assume ownership and responsibilities for their oxygen equipment. The AARC is also adamantly opposed to the Administration’s 2008 Budget proposal to decrease to 13 months, down from the current 36 months the time at which ownership will begin.
The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (HR 1108 and S. 625)These bills will finally give the Food and Drug Administration the authority to regulated the manufacture and sale of tobacco products.
The Allied Health Reinvestment Act (S. 605)This legislation introduced in the House would provide funding to give incentives for individuals to enroll and complete allied health education and training programs. It would further provide funding to allied health training programs to ensure that these programs are viable and available to those entering into to allied health professions including respiratory therapy."
Alas, these magnificent blueprints will remain as such until action is taken. Write your representatives! Email them! Make time with them! If we are to eradicate this despicable plague, it is going to require government support! And the only people who can make that happen?
It starts with you.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Preemptive Strike
Asthma can be viewed as an unstoppable juggernaut with its only goal to prevent you from being active and breathing properly. That is, in fact, what asthma is. This disease is a powerful monster, and fighting it is no easy task. But why on Earth should we have to face it when it is at its fullest power? Why go toe to toe with something that is so mighty?
There is an easy answer to that question: you SHOULDN'T battle a disease like that when it is at 100%. Yet, how is it possible to keep this wretched curse from attaining its full might? Why, asthma prevention, of course. Asthma prevention is, in simplest terms, creating an atmosphere where the least amount of risk from triggers exists.
"But Joseph, that's easy. All people with asthma need to do to avoid triggers is stay away from them." True, but the world is full of triggers you sometimes wouldn't even expect, making the task of keeping away from every possible trigger a daunting one. Apart from the obvious triggers like pet hair, pollen, and cigarette smoke, there are things that will aggravate an asthmatic's airways just as potently. What about paint? Those fumes can be a nasty threat to a visiting asthmatic. Don't forget about that microscopic dust in the air. Even the unseen is potentially a hazard to those hard of breathing. And how about the temperature. Yes, even the state of the air, whether it be hot or cold and humid or dry dictates the state of an asthmatic's breathing.
So what is there to do? Isn't it the asthmatic's responsibility to fight those triggers on his or her own? It is, in fact. But why would someone ask that question on a website called killasthma.com? There are plenty of things everyone can do to help make the world a better place for those who are sensitive to airborne allergens. Here are a few examples:
-Keep your home cooled between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity between 40 and 50 percent (at least when someone with asthma is in the house). This is an ideal setting for an asthmatic. Perfectly balanced, it insures that the air is neither too hot nor too cold for proper breathing.
-Replace carpeting with hard wood floors. It's a lot harder for specks and particles to create a home on an exposed, firm surface.
-Have masks available for an asthmatic to do housework or yard work with. The protection will keep things flowing smoothly.
-Exercise. This is an individual responsibility. A fit, healthy asthmatic is less likely to develop symptoms than a lazy, sickly one.
-Add mold inhibitor to paint, especially in damp places like the bathroom. Less mold = less asthma. Simple, right?
-Do your best to avoid other triggers. The world is full of them, but staying away from a restaurant that allows smoking, keeping away from freshly cut grass, and steering clear of people walking their dogs is sure to make you breathe easier.
It is almost impossible to keep an asthmatic from his or her disease, but there are things we can all do. Avoidance is key, and a fine eye for details will help pick out possible triggers. How tough is asthma when it doesn't have its posse of triggers to back it up? Not very. Let's keep it that way.
There is an easy answer to that question: you SHOULDN'T battle a disease like that when it is at 100%. Yet, how is it possible to keep this wretched curse from attaining its full might? Why, asthma prevention, of course. Asthma prevention is, in simplest terms, creating an atmosphere where the least amount of risk from triggers exists.
"But Joseph, that's easy. All people with asthma need to do to avoid triggers is stay away from them." True, but the world is full of triggers you sometimes wouldn't even expect, making the task of keeping away from every possible trigger a daunting one. Apart from the obvious triggers like pet hair, pollen, and cigarette smoke, there are things that will aggravate an asthmatic's airways just as potently. What about paint? Those fumes can be a nasty threat to a visiting asthmatic. Don't forget about that microscopic dust in the air. Even the unseen is potentially a hazard to those hard of breathing. And how about the temperature. Yes, even the state of the air, whether it be hot or cold and humid or dry dictates the state of an asthmatic's breathing.
So what is there to do? Isn't it the asthmatic's responsibility to fight those triggers on his or her own? It is, in fact. But why would someone ask that question on a website called killasthma.com? There are plenty of things everyone can do to help make the world a better place for those who are sensitive to airborne allergens. Here are a few examples:
-Keep your home cooled between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity between 40 and 50 percent (at least when someone with asthma is in the house). This is an ideal setting for an asthmatic. Perfectly balanced, it insures that the air is neither too hot nor too cold for proper breathing.
-Replace carpeting with hard wood floors. It's a lot harder for specks and particles to create a home on an exposed, firm surface.
-Have masks available for an asthmatic to do housework or yard work with. The protection will keep things flowing smoothly.
-Exercise. This is an individual responsibility. A fit, healthy asthmatic is less likely to develop symptoms than a lazy, sickly one.
-Add mold inhibitor to paint, especially in damp places like the bathroom. Less mold = less asthma. Simple, right?
-Do your best to avoid other triggers. The world is full of them, but staying away from a restaurant that allows smoking, keeping away from freshly cut grass, and steering clear of people walking their dogs is sure to make you breathe easier.
It is almost impossible to keep an asthmatic from his or her disease, but there are things we can all do. Avoidance is key, and a fine eye for details will help pick out possible triggers. How tough is asthma when it doesn't have its posse of triggers to back it up? Not very. Let's keep it that way.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
The Asthma Killer
We have a horrible disease in our lives. We have a weapon with which to combat it...but it is a terrible foe. It will take someone of extreme compassion and intelligence to strike back at it. Who can we call upon? What kind of warrior can stand against such a deadly adversary?
The respiratory therapist is the mongoose to the cobra. He is water to fire and Rocky Balboa to Ivan Drago. The efficiency with which this noble medical professional combats that despicable disease is something to be admired and idolized. So a respiratory therapist is asthma's greatest nightmare? But what exactly is a respiratory therapist? What does it take to be one and what do they do?
A respiratory therapist is the one who takes care of a patient with any breathing disorder that causes them to be under a respiratory therapist's care. Our medical professional will take care of any patient who needs him. What I mean by taking care of is that he evaluates and treats them.
Now, evaluation is a critical part of a respiratory therapist’s job, because if he doesn’t know what he’s treating, he could be doing more harm than help. In order to evaluate a patient, the respiratory therapist must interview him, perform limited physical examinations, and conduct diagnostic tests. In simpler terms, it means he asks questions, checks the patient’s body, and does blood tests to determine the concentration of oxygen and other gases in the patient’s blood. A respiratory therapist will also test breathing capacity by having a patient blow into an instrument that measures the strength of air flow. After gathering this information, the respiratory therapist then diagnoses the ailment by comparing it to the normal standards for the patient’s age group, gender, and height and weight, and sets to work to rectify the problem.
The weapons in a respiratory therapist’s arsenal in the war against breathing disorders are very potent. For treatment, a respiratory therapist can use oxygen or oxygen mixtures, chest physiotherapy and aerosol medications. When a patient isn’t getting enough oxygen, respiratory therapists can use oxygen masks or even put a tube into the trachea that is attached to a ventilator to do the breathing for them. A very powerful form of therapy, chest physiotherapy, removes mucus from a patient’s lungs and is sometimes even used during surgery to clear the lungs of unwanted fluids and mucus.
A respiratory therapist can do a lot, but what does it take to be one? The minimum degree a respiratory therapist must have is an Associate’s Degree. There are plenty of accepted schools around the country with respiratory therapy programs, the bulk of them being community colleges. One such college is our very own El Centro (which I personally plan to graduate from). All states (except Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the District of Colombia) require licensure before a respiratory therapist can practice in that state. There are two levels of respiratory therapists. Certified Respiratory Therapists (CRTs) and Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRTs). Examinations consist of a writing and practicum portion, and can be obtained from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).
Such a well-trained warrior....asthma doesn't stand a chance. And when I'm finally a respiratory therapist? I'm bringing asthma down. You can take that to the bank.
The respiratory therapist is the mongoose to the cobra. He is water to fire and Rocky Balboa to Ivan Drago. The efficiency with which this noble medical professional combats that despicable disease is something to be admired and idolized. So a respiratory therapist is asthma's greatest nightmare? But what exactly is a respiratory therapist? What does it take to be one and what do they do?
A respiratory therapist is the one who takes care of a patient with any breathing disorder that causes them to be under a respiratory therapist's care. Our medical professional will take care of any patient who needs him. What I mean by taking care of is that he evaluates and treats them.
Now, evaluation is a critical part of a respiratory therapist’s job, because if he doesn’t know what he’s treating, he could be doing more harm than help. In order to evaluate a patient, the respiratory therapist must interview him, perform limited physical examinations, and conduct diagnostic tests. In simpler terms, it means he asks questions, checks the patient’s body, and does blood tests to determine the concentration of oxygen and other gases in the patient’s blood. A respiratory therapist will also test breathing capacity by having a patient blow into an instrument that measures the strength of air flow. After gathering this information, the respiratory therapist then diagnoses the ailment by comparing it to the normal standards for the patient’s age group, gender, and height and weight, and sets to work to rectify the problem.
The weapons in a respiratory therapist’s arsenal in the war against breathing disorders are very potent. For treatment, a respiratory therapist can use oxygen or oxygen mixtures, chest physiotherapy and aerosol medications. When a patient isn’t getting enough oxygen, respiratory therapists can use oxygen masks or even put a tube into the trachea that is attached to a ventilator to do the breathing for them. A very powerful form of therapy, chest physiotherapy, removes mucus from a patient’s lungs and is sometimes even used during surgery to clear the lungs of unwanted fluids and mucus.
A respiratory therapist can do a lot, but what does it take to be one? The minimum degree a respiratory therapist must have is an Associate’s Degree. There are plenty of accepted schools around the country with respiratory therapy programs, the bulk of them being community colleges. One such college is our very own El Centro (which I personally plan to graduate from). All states (except Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the District of Colombia) require licensure before a respiratory therapist can practice in that state. There are two levels of respiratory therapists. Certified Respiratory Therapists (CRTs) and Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRTs). Examinations consist of a writing and practicum portion, and can be obtained from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).
Such a well-trained warrior....asthma doesn't stand a chance. And when I'm finally a respiratory therapist? I'm bringing asthma down. You can take that to the bank.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
The Master Sword
What is a hero without his weapon? Can you slay a dragon without a sword? NO! Before we can discover who asthma's greatest enemy is, we must learn asthma's greatest fear: albuterol. This powerful drug is the main proponent in the arsenal of any man woman, or child fighting against asthma. It is the light that shines through the darkness, the bane of this wretched disease. It is the hero that delivers the victims of such a horrible affliction upon the human body to their sweet, oxygen-filled salvation. It is an asthmatic's lifeline.
What is albuterol, though? No doubt, if you have any experience whatsoever with a respiratory illness, you have heard this drug come up many, many times. It is a drug, and it comes in three forms: tablets, syrups, and (the most common form) as an inhalent. The chemical formula for albuterol is C13H21NO3: 13 atoms of carbon, 21 atoms of hydrogen, and 3 atoms of Nitric Oxide. (Nitrate)
This bond of atoms creates albuterol; it can be found in tablets to syrups, and in nebulizers to inhalers. If you need to breathe, chances are you'll be getting some dose of this miraculous medicine.
But what exactly does albuterol do in regards to asthma? Well, as has already been established, asthma is a disease that constricts the air passages into the lungs, reducing or completely cutting off the supply of oxygen to the body. Albuterol gets into the body and relaxes those muscles. Inhalents are the most commonly administered form of the medication, as it interacts the most quickly with the airways. Albuterol is essentially a muscle relaxant, and while it affects only the smooth muscles of the air passages, it's effects can be felt all over the body. In an attack, it can either get rid of the episode or stall it long enough for emergency treatment to be acquired.
But in severe cases, a tube with a firm skeleton must be employed to force the air passage open. A mechanical ventilator will then be used to maintain sufficient oxygen supply to the body. Peak flows are used to measure the strength of the lungs, chest physiotherapy to rid a chest of mucus, and analyzation of the gases in the blood to diagnose patients. But no other treatment is used quite as often as that shining Excaliubur: albuterol. When it comes to blows, asthma stands no chance. Especially when wielded by a knowledgable medical professional. Albuterol will slow asthma down, but in the battle to kill it? It'll take a lot more than some muscle relaxant.
What is albuterol, though? No doubt, if you have any experience whatsoever with a respiratory illness, you have heard this drug come up many, many times. It is a drug, and it comes in three forms: tablets, syrups, and (the most common form) as an inhalent. The chemical formula for albuterol is C13H21NO3: 13 atoms of carbon, 21 atoms of hydrogen, and 3 atoms of Nitric Oxide. (Nitrate)
This bond of atoms creates albuterol; it can be found in tablets to syrups, and in nebulizers to inhalers. If you need to breathe, chances are you'll be getting some dose of this miraculous medicine.
But what exactly does albuterol do in regards to asthma? Well, as has already been established, asthma is a disease that constricts the air passages into the lungs, reducing or completely cutting off the supply of oxygen to the body. Albuterol gets into the body and relaxes those muscles. Inhalents are the most commonly administered form of the medication, as it interacts the most quickly with the airways. Albuterol is essentially a muscle relaxant, and while it affects only the smooth muscles of the air passages, it's effects can be felt all over the body. In an attack, it can either get rid of the episode or stall it long enough for emergency treatment to be acquired.
But in severe cases, a tube with a firm skeleton must be employed to force the air passage open. A mechanical ventilator will then be used to maintain sufficient oxygen supply to the body. Peak flows are used to measure the strength of the lungs, chest physiotherapy to rid a chest of mucus, and analyzation of the gases in the blood to diagnose patients. But no other treatment is used quite as often as that shining Excaliubur: albuterol. When it comes to blows, asthma stands no chance. Especially when wielded by a knowledgable medical professional. Albuterol will slow asthma down, but in the battle to kill it? It'll take a lot more than some muscle relaxant.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Asthma: What Is It?
When you get hungry, what is your first reaction? Perhaps a twinge of discomfort, a growling stomach, and a little aggressiveness. What about severe thirst? Dry mouth, a little on edge to find some water, and even a little light headed. But now imagine not being able to breathe for just 30 seconds. NOW what is your reaction? Severe panic, damaged and dying cells in your body, purple face, racing heart, frantic, choking, dying. Just half a minute without air. How would you take it? That is what most people will experience if ever put in a situation like that just once or twice in their lives. But for people with asthma, it can be a regular occurrence on a monthly basis.
Air is the most precious and vital of all resources our bodies need to operate. Oxygen is the most abundant resource on the face of this planet, and yet some people are deterred in their need for this invaluable chemical. Asthmatics, people with asthma, know just how precious and sweet an easy breath of clean air can be. And it is, for every second that they can draw breath, their bodies can utilize that all important gas which makes life possible. But asthma, in all its horror can make it hard for people to breathe...sometimes even make it all together impossible. And nothing on this green Earth is more frightening than trying to draw breath and being unable to do so.
Asthma is not a disease in the conventional way. When people think of diseases, they think of viruses and bacteria that infect and harm the body. AIDS, cancer, diabetes....but asthma is different than all these. A person with asthma has air passages in his or her body that are allergic to many different stressors. When these stressors come into contact with the airways, the tubes that transport such precious cargo in and out of your lungs swell-making it very hard, if not impossible, to breathe. Some peoples' triggers are dander, pollen, cigarette smoke, and other such external stimuli, while other people can be triggered from strenuous aerobic exercise or activities. During an "asthma attack", the airways close so much that an asthmatic's body isn't getting the oxygen it needs. Lips and nail beds will turn pale or blue, indicating that sufficient oxygen isn't present, along with profuse sweating and wheezing or an inability to draw breath at all. It is a frightening thing for all who experience it, and asthma, unlike the cutesy way that movies and cartoons portray it as the trademark of only the fat nerd, can kill the strongest of men just as easy as the smallest of children.
Asthma is the leading cause of hospitalization in children, and is becoming more and more common among America's youth. In the United States, about 20 million people have been diagnosed with asthma; nearly 9 million of them are children. Reasons for this rapid spread of asthma are unknown, because asthma is only inheritable at birth. You're either born with it, or you don't have it. Stress, diet, the environment....all sorts of things could be the cause of transferrence of asthma at birth, but nothing has been solidly found on the subject. Asthma is a disease that is said to be incurable, since it's really only just allergies to certain stressors. But there are ways being found to fight allergies, so with enough support and help, we can find a way to fight asthma. Asthma sucks. Let's kill this terrible disease once and for all.
Air is the most precious and vital of all resources our bodies need to operate. Oxygen is the most abundant resource on the face of this planet, and yet some people are deterred in their need for this invaluable chemical. Asthmatics, people with asthma, know just how precious and sweet an easy breath of clean air can be. And it is, for every second that they can draw breath, their bodies can utilize that all important gas which makes life possible. But asthma, in all its horror can make it hard for people to breathe...sometimes even make it all together impossible. And nothing on this green Earth is more frightening than trying to draw breath and being unable to do so.
Asthma is not a disease in the conventional way. When people think of diseases, they think of viruses and bacteria that infect and harm the body. AIDS, cancer, diabetes....but asthma is different than all these. A person with asthma has air passages in his or her body that are allergic to many different stressors. When these stressors come into contact with the airways, the tubes that transport such precious cargo in and out of your lungs swell-making it very hard, if not impossible, to breathe. Some peoples' triggers are dander, pollen, cigarette smoke, and other such external stimuli, while other people can be triggered from strenuous aerobic exercise or activities. During an "asthma attack", the airways close so much that an asthmatic's body isn't getting the oxygen it needs. Lips and nail beds will turn pale or blue, indicating that sufficient oxygen isn't present, along with profuse sweating and wheezing or an inability to draw breath at all. It is a frightening thing for all who experience it, and asthma, unlike the cutesy way that movies and cartoons portray it as the trademark of only the fat nerd, can kill the strongest of men just as easy as the smallest of children.
Asthma is the leading cause of hospitalization in children, and is becoming more and more common among America's youth. In the United States, about 20 million people have been diagnosed with asthma; nearly 9 million of them are children. Reasons for this rapid spread of asthma are unknown, because asthma is only inheritable at birth. You're either born with it, or you don't have it. Stress, diet, the environment....all sorts of things could be the cause of transferrence of asthma at birth, but nothing has been solidly found on the subject. Asthma is a disease that is said to be incurable, since it's really only just allergies to certain stressors. But there are ways being found to fight allergies, so with enough support and help, we can find a way to fight asthma. Asthma sucks. Let's kill this terrible disease once and for all.
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