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What is Asthma
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Asthma and the
Environment
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Work-Related
Asthma
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Data and
Surveillance
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Asthma
Health Disparities
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Asthma Policies
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Monthly Asthma
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State Asthma
Plan
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Asthma is a chronic
inflammatory disorder of the airways that is associated with
obstruction, inflammation or hyper-responsive airways that cause airflow
limitation and respiratory symptoms. As with most chronic diseases,
diagnosis, treatment and management are critical to controlling the
disease. If untreated or under-treated, asthma symptoms can cause
limitations to a person’s physical health that interfere with his or her
quality of life. Physical limitations caused by untreated or
under-treated asthma can also result in missed days of work/school or
even death.
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One Woman’s Story…
Francis
is a 50-year old professional woman diagnosed with asthma in her 40s
and has intermittent problems with her asthma.
Click here to view the
story.
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The role of the health care practitioner is to work with people with asthma
(patients) to control their disease and prevent it from interfering with daily
life. When an asthma exacerbation (attack) occurs, disease management becomes
urgent (acute). Thus, asthma management crosses both the acute and planned
models for health services delivery.
In Washington State, an estimated 400,000 Washington adults and 120,000 youth
currently have asthma. More than 5,000 people are hospitalized every year, and
asthma costs more than $400 million annually in medical expenditures and lost
productivity. Preventable asthma-related hospitalizations are expensive to
people with asthma and the health care system
More information is available in our state plan. Click on the link
below to view the Health Care for Asthma chapter.
Click here for Health Care for Asthma
- State Plan (564 KB - MS Word)
Washington State Medical Association Asthma Treatment Guidelines
Other Resources:
National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guidelines (NAEPP)
NAEPP Expert Panel Report
2: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma Download for Palm
OS Devices
Environmental Management of
Pediatric Asthma: Guidelines for Health Care Providers
Chronic Care
Model
Asthma and the Elderly - NAEPP
Asthma and the role of the Respiratory Therapist
Asthma
Management Plans (Multiple languages available)
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External
Links:
Washington Asthma Initiative
Centers for Disease Control - Asthma
Environmental Protection Agency
National Institute of
Occupational Safety and Health
Internal Links:
Washington State Asthma Plan
Washington State Burden
of Asthma Report
Asthma Fact Sheet
Related Links:
Tobacco Prevention and Control
Other CFH Programs
Environmental Health
Programs
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