"May is Asthma Awareness Month?"
By: Brandon Kreager
With San Antonio’s asthma population at 135,000 and counting, it raises the question, “Are these asthmatic patients receiving the medical attention they deserve?” and “If not, why?” According to Board Certified allergist/immunologist Dr. John P. Dice, “One of the main reasons why asthma is not viewed as a severe or life threatening disease is because people that have asthma feel their asthma is well controlled when it is not.” A recent study conducted by the Allergy & Asthma Foundation of America (AAFA) confirmed Dr. Dice opinion. The AAFA was able to show that 77% of asthmatic patients feel their asthma is well controlled, however, after being examined by an allergist only 40% of those patients actually had well controlled asthma. Which leads to the next question, “Why are these asthmatic patients not receiving the medical attention they deserve?” Dr. Dice feels that part of the problem is contributed to how the disease is portrayed in movies and on television. “Asthma has traditionally been portrayed as a condition of the weak or wimpy. People often avoid using their asthma medications to avoid that perception. The truth is, asthma can affect anyone and some very powerful and tough people have had asthma.” That list includes football players like Emmitt Smith and Jerome Bettis, President John F Kennedy and freedom fighter Che Guevara, rapper DMX and rock star Jonathan Davis of Korn. All of these people have been successful because they learned to control their asthma so that it didn’t interfere with their lives!
Unfortunately, in America, asthma is still the number one reason why people go to the emergency room. Today, 40,000 will miss work or school because of their asthma, 1,000 people will be admitted to the hospital, and 11 people will die today due to their asthma.
In an effort to reverse these statistics, we partnered with HEB pharmacies, and the San Antonio Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Society, and developed the San Antonio Citywide Asthma Screening Program. This program was designed to provide free asthma testing and asthma education for the city of San Antonio. This past Saturday (5/8/10), the Citywide Asthma Screening Program was offered in four HEB locations here in San Antonio, and screened over 100 people. 100 people may sound like a lot, but that is just a drop in the bucket compared to how many asthmatics live in San Antonio and are not receiving the medical care they deserve. Help us strengthen are efforts. May is indeed asthma awareness month. Find a way to bring focus to this dismissed, overlooked disease.
Common asthma symptoms:
• Regularly wake up at night with difficulty breathing
• Limited in participating in common daily activities
• Have the following symptoms: shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness or persistent cough
A special thanks to everyone at HEB (Brent Thacker, RHP; Chuck Sinn, RHP; Paul Frederichs, RHP; Al Azad, RHP; Tom Stehling, RHP), Dan Graff with nSpire Health, Dr. Gligoric & Dr. Ramirez, and anyone else who helped make this program possible!
With San Antonio’s asthma population at 135,000 and counting, it raises the question, “Are these asthmatic patients receiving the medical attention they deserve?” and “If not, why?” According to Board Certified allergist/immunologist Dr. John P. Dice, “One of the main reasons why asthma is not viewed as a severe or life threatening disease is because people that have asthma feel their asthma is well controlled when it is not.” A recent study conducted by the Allergy & Asthma Foundation of America (AAFA) confirmed Dr. Dice opinion. The AAFA was able to show that 77% of asthmatic patients feel their asthma is well controlled, however, after being examined by an allergist only 40% of those patients actually had well controlled asthma. Which leads to the next question, “Why are these asthmatic patients not receiving the medical attention they deserve?” Dr. Dice feels that part of the problem is contributed to how the disease is portrayed in movies and on television. “Asthma has traditionally been portrayed as a condition of the weak or wimpy. People often avoid using their asthma medications to avoid that perception. The truth is, asthma can affect anyone and some very powerful and tough people have had asthma.” That list includes football players like Emmitt Smith and Jerome Bettis, President John F Kennedy and freedom fighter Che Guevara, rapper DMX and rock star Jonathan Davis of Korn. All of these people have been successful because they learned to control their asthma so that it didn’t interfere with their lives!
Unfortunately, in America, asthma is still the number one reason why people go to the emergency room. Today, 40,000 will miss work or school because of their asthma, 1,000 people will be admitted to the hospital, and 11 people will die today due to their asthma.
In an effort to reverse these statistics, we partnered with HEB pharmacies, and the San Antonio Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Society, and developed the San Antonio Citywide Asthma Screening Program. This program was designed to provide free asthma testing and asthma education for the city of San Antonio. This past Saturday (5/8/10), the Citywide Asthma Screening Program was offered in four HEB locations here in San Antonio, and screened over 100 people. 100 people may sound like a lot, but that is just a drop in the bucket compared to how many asthmatics live in San Antonio and are not receiving the medical care they deserve. Help us strengthen are efforts. May is indeed asthma awareness month. Find a way to bring focus to this dismissed, overlooked disease.
Common asthma symptoms:
• Regularly wake up at night with difficulty breathing
• Limited in participating in common daily activities
• Have the following symptoms: shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness or persistent cough
A special thanks to everyone at HEB (Brent Thacker, RHP; Chuck Sinn, RHP; Paul Frederichs, RHP; Al Azad, RHP; Tom Stehling, RHP), Dan Graff with nSpire Health, Dr. Gligoric & Dr. Ramirez, and anyone else who helped make this program possible!
 Bandera/410 HEB |
 First test of the day |
 Dr. Kniker |
 Asthma fairs can be fun! |
 Chuck Sinn, RPH and Dr. Diaz |
 "Next patient please" |
 Maggie, Anna and Patty |
 Blow hard |
 Bandera/410 Crew |
 ACAAI program sign |
 Isabel coaching |
 Isabel, Sylvia and Sandra |
 Smile |
 One on one with Dr. Dice |
 Team work |
 "Big breath, now blow!" |