Asthma Awareness Month Reinforces Importance of Asthma Prevention and Management

Contact: Andy Weisser, 818-703-6444, aweisser@alac.org

LOS ANGELES, Calif., May 13 /Standard Newswire/ -- Bringing much-needed attention to a chronic disease that strikes one out of six kids in the state, the American Lung Association of California today marked Asthma Awareness Month by endorsing the California Department of Public Health's new five-year Strategic Plan for Asthma in California 2008-2012.

The plan provides strategies to improve the health and quality of life of the more than 5 million Californians affected by asthma, and outlines steps to reduce the disease's health care costs - California hospitalizations totaled more than $763 million in 2005 alone.

"Just as prevention strategies and good asthma management can minimize the risk of debilitating asthma attacks, the new California plan can minimize the impact of asthma on the state as a whole, and especially for the millions who experience the symptoms of poorly managed asthma," said Jim Wilgus, president and CEO of the American Lung Association of California.

California's new Strategic Plan for Asthma focuses on five goals and 40 objectives within the context of several cross-cutting priorities: reducing asthma disparities, fostering awareness and education, focusing on asthma throughout the lifespan, creating institutional and systems change, and promoting the most health-protective asthma policies. It also calls for new partnerships and collaborations to make California a healthier place for everyone.

"The American Lung Association of California, building upon our existing programs to provide solutions for those with asthma, pledges to continue its collaborative work with state and local organizations and communities on the critical goals outlined in the plan," Wilgus added. "We will continue to help prevent and control asthma so that those with asthma no longer need to experience a high number of asthma-caused missed school and work days, disruption of sleep and family activities, and urgent medical visits."

In addition to conducting asthma advocacy work and funding asthma-related research, the American Lung Association of California offers Open Airways for Schools, an education program for children with asthma in grades 3-6, camps for children with asthma, and Breathe Well, Live Well for adults. Residents also can call the American Lung Association's multilingual Lung HelpLine at 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) to speak with a nurse or respiratory therapist at no charge.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the lungs that makes it difficult to breathe. Triggers can include viral infections, allergies, indoor and outdoor air pollution, second-hand smoke and more. Prevention and control strategies include developing an asthma action plan with a medical professional, using daily control medications if prescribed, scheduling regular follow-up clinic visits, having access to quick-relief inhalers and avoiding personal asthma triggers.

For more information, visit http://www.californialung.org/. To read the state's strategic plan, log onto http://betterasthmacare.org/.