World Asthma Day is May 1

From the Peoria City/County Health Department:

Asthma is a long-term, inflammatory disease in which the airways of the lungs constrict, causing wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing. In Peoria County 12.8% of the residents have been diagnosed with asthma and 11.5% report having at least one asthma symptom a week. Asthma is the fourth most common reason for pediatric physician office visits and is one of the leading causes of school absenteeism. In response to these alarming statistics and in an effort to raise public awareness of the risks faced everyday by people living with asthma, the Peoria City/County Health Department urges residents to observe World Asthma Day on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 by learning more about controlling the factors that affect people with asthma. [snip]

Symptoms of an asthma attack can include frequent coughing and wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. These symptoms may occur alone or in combination with other symptoms. A sign that asthma may be present, especially in children, is an excessive number of chest colds or episodes of pneumonia. Because these symptoms are common to other illnesses, asthma is often difficult to diagnose. Recognizing and reducing the frequency and severity of symptoms can help prevent further damage to the lungs.

Although asthma is not curable at this time, changes in lifestyle and proper medication can reduce the frequency and severity of asthma attacks. The following are some steps you can take to help control asthma:

• Keep your home clean.
• Properly maintain heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems by
  regularly changing filters and cleaning humidifiers. Use high efficiency
  particle filters to remove particles from the indoor environment.
• Install exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathrooms.                                                   
• Relative humidity in the home should be kept at less than 60 percent. If
  humidifiers are used in the home, change the water daily and clean the tank
  weekly to prevent growth of bacteria and mold.
• Do not allow cigarette smoking in your home. Avoid secondhand smoke as much
  as possible.
• Refrain from exercising outdoors during cold weather. During windy weather
  or after light rain, time outdoors should be limited because pollen counts may
  be high.
• Develop an asthma action plan to help prevent symptoms and to recognize them 
  if they occur and to know what medicine to take and when to take it. [read more]