My Life as an Asthma Mom

  The U.S. is a mix of disasters.  The South has been hit by two destructive hurricanes in a few weeks time, Helena and Milton. Milton was called a once in a 1,000 year hurricane.  Homes have been washed away, and the death toll is over 200, and families are devastated. In the West, they are continuing with a drought, record high temperatures (close to 100 degrees in October), and continuing wildfires. There is a wildfire near me, and it's over 20,000 acres and causing evacuations.  In October.  Instead of snuggling under a blanket and sipping hot chocolate while we eat apple cider donuts, we are sitting in front of the air conditioner  What is happening with this crazy weather? The Dangers of Wildfire Smoke  According to the CDC, wildfire smoke can cause: Coughing and wheezing  Trouble breathing Asthma attacks Stinging eyes, scratchy throat and runny nose  Headaches Fatigue Chest pain Fast heartbeat Wildfire smoke doesn't follow city, ...

  2024 Social Health Award Winners    Every year, advocates from around the country are recognized for their hard work during the Social Health Awards. Before winners are chosen, they go through online voting for their category, followed by three rounds of judging.  Some of the nominees advocate for a disease they have, others advocate on behalf of family.  These are the 2024 winners, a few family members, and staff from Health Union.  I was shocked when they announced my name.  In fact, I was yelling so loudly (I won! I won! I won???? Are you sure????) that I had to exit a tram at the top of a mountain.  Good thing I was able to get off the tram before it started down the mountain. No one would want to ride with the crazy lady.  My award validated the work I have been doing in asthma education since 2009. This group of winners advocates in a variety of ways, such as:   Coordinate support groups Make reels for TikTok and Instagram ...

 What is the September Asthma epidemic? During the 3rd week of September, asthma hospitalizations spike. In fact, it's the highest time of the year for asthma hospitalizations. You may have thought it was in the middle of winter - during flu season. But it's the 3rd week of September.   What causes the September Asthma Epidemic? There are many causes: Back to school  - instead of spending time outdoors, kids are back inside Unventilated classrooms - rooms are usually small with many kids and bad ventilation.That makes it easy for germs to spread   Animal dander - kids with asthma can have asthma attacks when other students come to school with cat and dog dander on their clothing. This happened to my son in 2nd grade and he had to start allergy shots (we couldn't ask the classmates to get rid of their pets -  that would have gone over well. So we had to protect my son with allergy shots.) Fall allergies - ragweed and chenopods are in bloom. And outdoor mo...

  Now that the Olympics are over, my social media feed is full of pictures of little kids going back to school.  Awww. I remember those days!  My kids are all adults now, but I remember buying school supplies, shoes, and clothes. But the most important thing was making sure my kids with asthma were are safe at school.  1. Meet the teachers  Back in the day, I was always the first one in the classroom to talk to my kid's teachers. I would let her know that my kids have severe asthma and have been in the hospital many times. (By this point, all of the teachers knew me  - and my kids....) 😬 I would give the teacher my cell number and tell her to call me if my child was having an asthma attack. I always gave them a handout about the signs and symptoms of asthma. I offered to train the staff with a short training "What To Do if a Student Has an Asthma Attack", but they didn't have time 2. Check in with the school nurse  I was on a first name basis with the...

  Is anyone excited to watch the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympics? I'll be tuned in to watch the athletes - and hope to catch lots of views of my favorite city!  I've been watching the Olympic Trials and wonder if those athletes are super human. The Olympics Motto is: "Faster, Higher, Stronger" Those athletes seem super human - but they're not.  Olympic Athletes with Asthma    Did you know that asthma is the most common chronic condition among elite Olympic athletes? Did you know that 16.5% of Olympic athletes have asthma?  That's double the rates for the average American (8.3% of adults have asthma). Some researchers say that rates of elite athletes with asthma is as high as 55%!  All sports are different, but endurance sports seem to have the highest number of athletes with asthma  (biathlon and cross country skiers, rowing, swimming, and cycling.) The Olympic athletes can also have other conditions, like rhinitis (runny nose, congestion...

If there is one thing I REALLY hate, it's wildfires (and especially wildfire smoke.) Years ago, my Middle Son ended up in the ICU thanks to a nearby wildfire.The smoke filled the valley, and also filled his lungs.   Later, our state was full of California's wildfire smoke. I live thousands of miles away - but smoke doesn't stop at state lines.  I was caught outside when the smoke rolled into the valley and despite starting breathing treatments (and taking my daily, controller inhalers), I ended up in the ER with a bad asthma flare.   In the 2023, the East Coast of the U.S. was inundated with wildfire smoke from Canada.   It can literally happen anywhere and affect anyone. How to protect yourself from wildfire smoke  Stay indoors  Keep windows and doors closed at all times  Make sure your HVAC filter is clean so it can filter the outside air If driving, use the "recirculating air" setting on your car's AC Use air cleaners in your home So...