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Logan County Asthma Partnership
The Logan County Asthma Partnership was formed in
2004 as a liaison between Logan County and the Illinois Asthma Partnership of
the Illinois Department of Public Health.
The mission of the Logan County Asthma Partnership is “To
strengthen community efforts and resources that assist in raising awareness and
education about asthma and its public health consequences.”
The vision of the Logan County Asthma Partnership is “To
improve the quality of life for persons with asthma and their caregivers and to
decrease morbidity and mortality from asthma in Logan County.”
For more information on joining the Logan County Asthma
Partnership, contact Logan County Department of Public Health 217-735-2317.
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a chronic condition characterized by inflammation
of the airways in the lungs and by the spasm of muscles surrounding these
airways. Inflammation occurs when irritated tissues swell and produce extra
mucus. The combination of the two can cause constriction of or complete
blockage of the airways and can initiate symptoms of an asthma attack. Symptoms
of an asthma attack can include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and
shortness of breath. Asthma attacks may occur at anytime, but there are risk
factors that can trigger an attack.
| Allergens that most commonly trigger asthma include: |
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Dust mites |
Cigarette smoke |
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Animal dander |
air pollution |
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Cockroaches |
perfumes |
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Pollen |
cleaning products |
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Grass |
upper respiratory tract infections |
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Mold |
emotions |
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Fumes |
medications |
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Weather |
physical activity |
The Asthma
Action Plan
All children diagnosed with asthma should have an Asthma
Action Plan. The Asthma Action Plan is developed by the child’s family and
health care provider and clearly describes steps to take if a child with asthma
is experiencing any symptoms. The Asthma Action Plan will provide guidance to
help manage the child’s asthma and should be easily accessible for day care,
teachers, coaches, school nurses. Examples of the Asthma Action Plan can be
found on many of the following Asthma Resources websites or from your healthcare
provider.
Asthma
Resources
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
www.aaaai.org
American Academy of Pediatrics
www.americanacademyofpediatrics.org
American Lung Association
www.lungusa.org
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov/asthma
Chicago Asthma Consortium
www.chicagoasthma.org
Environmental Protection Agency
www.epa.gov/asthma
Illinois Department of Public Health
www.idph.state.il.us
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
www.nhlbi.nih.gov
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