BETHLEHEM HEALTH BUREAU – IN HOME ASTHMA SERVICES

Under the Maternal and Child Health Division, the Bethlehem Health Bureau serves Bethlehem City residents by conducting in-home environmental assessments for asthmatic children ages 2-17. Some services provided by the Bethlehem Health Bureau to pediatric asthma patients and their families include:

• Free in home assessment for identification of asthma triggers in the home
• Assistance with low cost ways to eliminate potential in home triggers
• Free education on the asthmatic process and resources to manage pediatric asthma
• Convenient evening appointment hours

For information on the Bethlehem Health Bureau’s in home environmental assessment program for asthmatic children ages 2-17, please call 610-865-7087 and ask for Brittany.

Overview of Asthma

Asthma affects people of all ages, but it most often starts in childhood. In the United States, more than 22 million people are known to have asthma. Nearly 6 million of these people are children.

The airways are tubes that carry air into and out of your lungs. People who have asthma have inflamed airways. This makes the airways swollen and very sensitive. They tend to react strongly to certain substances that are breathed in. Many things can trigger the airways to react such as mold, cockroaches, dust, smoke, sprays, colds and virus, cold weather, pets, rodents, and fumes. Every person with asthma has their own triggers.

When the airways react, the muscles around them tighten. This causes the airways to narrow, and less air flows to your lungs. The swelling also can worsen, making the airways even narrower. Cells in the airways may make more mucus than normal. Mucus is a sticky, thick liquid that can further narrow your airways. This chain reaction can result in asthma symptoms. Symptoms can happen each time the airways are irritated.

Sometimes symptoms are mild and go away on their own or after minimal treatment with an asthma medicine. At other times, symptoms continue to get worse. When symptoms get more intense and/or additional symptoms appear, this is an asthma attack. Asthma attacks also are called flare ups, episodes, or exacerbations. Many asthmatics take daily medicines to help prevent the airways from irritation and subsequent attack.

It's important to treat symptoms when you first notice them. This will help prevent the symptoms from worsening and causing a severe asthma attack. Severe asthma attacks may require emergency care, and they can cause death. Asthma can't be cured. Even when you feel fine, you still have the disease and it can flare up at any time. But with today's knowledge and treatments, most people who have asthma are able to manage the disease.

September 2008, NHLBI

For more information on asthma please visit the CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/