| Summary Report Of New Asthma Guidelines
More than 22 million Americans have asthma. It is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood, affecting about 6 million children. With these statistics in mind, The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently released the 2007 asthma guidelines, Expert Panel Report 3 (EPR 3): Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma, a report in excess of 300 pages.
A summary of the guidelines will be published as a supplement to the November 2007 issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI), the official journal of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI). The EPR 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma, Summary Report, 2007, will be available on the JACI's Web site, http://www.jacionline.org on November 8, 2007.
Asthma education brochures aimed at minorities miss the mark in Wisconsin
A Wisconsin study found that take-home educational materials designed for the state's minority children with asthma do not adequately address the cultural and linguistic issues unique to racial/ethnic minority groups. The study evaluated the educational pamphlets using a tool created by the Wisconsin Asthma Coalition, a group of administrators, researchers and health care professionals. The researchers analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of the language, visuals, depictions of cultural attitudes and medical provider practices. "This is a first of its kind. No one has developed a tool to gauge the cultural competence of asthma education materials," said lead study author Jane Brotanek, M.D. "It may serve as a model for other states." The study appears in the autumn issue of the journal Ethnicity & Disease .
Health calendar
Martial arts festival, demonstrations, entertainment and more; 2-8 p.m. Nov. 9, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Nov. 10 and 11; Neal Blaisdell Center; $20 ($10 children ages 7-13); www.themartialartsfestival.com. "Hanohano Lomilomi," event celebrating the release of a book on Hawaiian massage, with lomilomi mini-sessions, demonstrations, speakers and more; 5:30-8:30 p.m.; Nov. 9; Native Books/Na Mea Hawai'i and Ward Warehouse stage; free; 597-8967. Sandplay therapy, lecture on how terrorism and other sociopolitical events affect the human psyche; 7-9 p.m.; Nov. 9; Unitarian Church; $30 ($25 advance); registration: 732-8184. "Cancer Care: Current Issues," public meeting, with local and national specialists; 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Nov. 10; Hawaii Prince Hotel; free; registration: 522-3469.
New Lung Association Research: Millions More May Have COPD Than Previously Estimated, Canada
Startling research findings released by The Lung Association demonstrate that as many as three million Canadians may have COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), Canada's fourth leading cause of death. This is nearly double previous estimates and includes over one and a half million (1.6 million) undiagnosed Canadians (1) and one and a half million (1.5 million) who say they currently suffer from this chronic lung disease.
The research also shows that the disease is highly prevalent among younger Canadian baby boomers - one in seven Canadians aged 45 to 49 (375,000) may have COPD.
This research confirms recent global prevalence data published in The Lancet which states "…evidence suggests that rates of disease (COPD) are generally underestimated." (2)
"Smoking is the number one cause of COPD and it is astounding that millions of Canadians who may have COPD haven't been tested," said Dr.
Bilbray bill proposes stricter immigration enforcement
A new bill by Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Solana Beach, would require employers to verify that all of their new workers are in the country legally.One of the most vocal critics of illegal immigration in Congress, Bilbray said the bill also would call for an increase in the number of U.S. Border Patrol agents, intensify aerial surveillance at the nation's borders and increase the number of detention facilities. But critics say some of its supporters have co-sponsored the bill simply to appear tough on illegal immigration before the November elections. Since the bill was introduced Nov. 5, its list of co-sponsors has grown to 112, including 44 Democrats, making the bill more likely to move forward in the House, Bilbray said. The bill's main sponsor is North Carolina Democrat Heath Shuler."Congress has the responsibility to take action and respect the mandate given by the American people to enforce our laws, secure our borders and address illegal employment," Bilbray said.
Sonoma West News
Alarming statistics surrounding what health officials have tagged an epidemic are revealed in a new report from the Sonoma County Asthma Coalition."Asthma in Schools," the eye-opening two-page document, will be sent out to parents of students enrolled in various Sonoma County schools, as well as every law enforcement agency, fire department, superintendent, and elected official in the county, in an attempt to improve asthma-related health conditions for students, staff and community members.School nurses, libraries, past volunteers of the American Lung Association, and the media will also be among the 5,000 recipients of the report, which states that nearly one in five school-aged children - or about 20 percent of students in the county have asthma."Asthma is a chronic disease that produces recurring episodes of breathing problems, including coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath," the SCAC states in its report.
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