Enesta Jones: Hello and welcome to Green Scene, an environmental
podcast you can take with you.
I'm Enesta Jones of the Office of Public Affairs.
Millions of Americans suffer from the serious and sometimes life-threatening respiratory
disease called asthma.
While May is Asthma Awareness Month, EPA is committed year-round to educating all Americans
about asthma so that everyone knows what asthma is, how the environment can affect asthma
patients, and how to manage environmental asthma triggers.
As part of our efforts, EPA supports organizations that are working to improve the lives of people
with asthma.
Today joining me is Tracey Mitchell, a registered respiratory therapist and certified asthma
educator from our Indoor Environments Division in the Office of Radiation and Indoor Air
and a representative from one of EPA's partners in our asthma awareness efforts, Marcela Gieminiani
from the Asthma and Allergy Network Mothers of Asthmatics, AAANMA.
Welcome Tracey and Marcela to the show.
Tracey Mitchell: Thank you.
Marcela Gieminiani: Thank you for having me.
Enesta Jones: Thank you for being here today.
Marcela Gieminiani: Thank you for coming.
Enesta Jones: So before we start talking about asthma, Marcela
can you tell me a little bit about your organization?
Marcela Gieminiani: Yes, Allergy and Asthma Network Mothers of
Asthmatics.
It's a non-profit organization whose mission is to eliminate death and suffering to asthma,
allergy, and related conditions.
We have a group of volunteers working with us across the country.
We call them Outreach Service Coordinators.
And as part of that group we have the Hispanic Outreach Service, which include cultural competent
educational material and volunteers working with under-served populations.
We also work with families and schools and community centers creating awareness on the
disease so people can learn how to prevent and manage asthma.
Enesta Jones: And Tracey, in addition to supporting non-profits,
what else is EPA doing to promote awareness and to fund this disease?
Tracey Mitchell: EPA directly and indirectly through some of
our partner organizations conducting research in primarily three areas to learn more about
the genetics of asthma, the genetic component, and why some populations are more affected
than others.
We're also learning more about things in the environment that trigger asthma and why some
things are more of a trigger than others.
And then we're also working to learn more about ways to reduce those triggers and what
are the most effective ways to reduce people's exposures to things that could cause an asthma
episode.
Enesta Jones: Now let's talk more about asthma itself.
What is this disease and what are some common symptoms?
Tracey Mitchell: Asthma is a disease of the airways in the
lung.
And when someone has asthma they -- their airways become inflamed, red, and swollen
and the lungs produce excess mucous.
So it makes it very difficult to breathe.
Common symptoms are coughing, wheezing or whistling sound in the chest and difficulty
or shortness of breath.
And it can be very scary, especially for a child who's having an asthma episode.
It is one of the most chronic diseases in childhood and so it is a very serious problem
in children.
Enesta Jones: Some of those symptoms we're seeing now because
of the flowers being in full bloom.
What are some of the differences between asthma and common allergy?
Tracey Mitchell: Asthma and allergies are actually very closely
related.
Many people who have asthma have an allergic asthma, whereas pollens and molds, things
in the environment that are seasonal often can trigger an asthma episode.
So along with the watery eyes, or the scratchy throat, the itchy nose, people who have allergic
asthma also will have the wheezing and the coughing and sometimes those go hand-in-hand
in about 80 percent of the cases.
Enesta Jones: Is there a certain population that is most
at risk?
Tracey Mitchell: As I mentioned, children are actually the
higher risk population or a higher risk population.
Also Hispanics are at a greater risk and primarily Puerto Ricans are disproportionately affected
by asthma.
About 2 million Hispanics in the country in the United States have asthma.
And so, they are definitely impacted more than other populations.
And actually African-Americans have a higher hospitalization rate and a higher death rate
than other populations.
And so they are of a particular concern and we're working, you know, across all of these
populations to help decrease the impact of asthma.
Enesta Jones: And Marcela, your work with the community
and with children --
Marcela Gieminiani: [affirmative]
Enesta Jones: -- what tends to make asthma worse?
Marcela Gieminiani: Well, we call them triggers and there's a
lot of things that can set off asthma and people should be aware of what is their particular
trigger.
Even though they are different for each people, the most common are dust, mold, furry animals,
pests like cockroaches and mice, second-hand smoke can trigger asthma also, as well as
play or exercise, viruses, and air pollution.
Enesta Jones: Prevention is often key.
Is there is anything you can do to prevent an attack?
Marcela Gieminiani: Yes, people with asthma and parents of children
with asthma should know that with good care anyone with asthma can lead a healthy life.
The key is work with the doctor or the health care professional to develop a treatment plan.
This plan is called asthma action plan and will tell you what medicine to take, when
to take them, what to do when asthma symptoms get worse, and how to avoid your triggers.
Avoiding triggers is a key component of a good asthma management.
Also if the child has asthma you may want to be sure that anyone who takes care of the
kid has a copy of the asthma action plan and understands how to use it.
Enesta Jones: Are there simple things that parents can do
to avoid the triggers?
Marcela Gieminiani: If we are talking about indoor quality and
asthma management, there's several steps that people can follow.
The tips are to keep your house clean, dry, and free of dust.
That will prevent mold and pests.
Also if dust mites are -- set off your asthma you may want to use allergy-proof cover and
also wash your sheets and blankets weekly with very hot water.
And what is very important is never allow nobody to smoke inside your house or in the
car or at work.
Enesta Jones: Is there any other advice we want to give
to our viewers?
Marcela Gieminiani: Yes, I think having an asthma action plan,
taking the medicines that your doctor prescribes and try to avoid your triggers is key components
for better asthma management.
You can take simple steps to make your home asthma-friendly and you may want to start
from your room.
And then with small changes you can have your home healthier for the whole family.
Tracey Mitchell: I think I'd just like to say while asthma
can't be cured, we know enough that we can manage it and that while we are looking and
doing the research that we talked about in the sound science, there are things -- simple
things, as Marcela told us, that parents and that people can do to address asthma right
now.
And at EPA we're working through organizations like the Allergy and Asthma Network Mothers
of Asthmatics and other national partners to educate health care providers about comprehensive
asthma care and including environmental management and to really help at the community level
to address asthma in communities across the country.
So the help is out there and hopefully people will be able to access that and be able to
help their children especially breathe easier.
Enesta Jones: Thank you Tracey and Marcela for being here
today.
Marcela Gieminiani: Thank you.
Tracey Mitchell: Thanks.
Enesta Jones: More information about EPA's efforts to reduce
exposure to asthma triggers and what you could do to minimize their impact is available at
www.epa.gov/asthma.
See you next time on Green Scene.