Blog
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Effects of Smartphone Applications on Adherence in Asthma Self-Management
An article in the October 2018 edition of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health investigates if the use of smartphone applications can improve adherence in asthma self-management. Researchers conducted a systematic review of articles, with eight meeting the review criteria of the study. All types of study were considered, which prevented meta-analysis…
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Online Module “Environmental Asthma Triggers: A Training for Public Health Professionals” Now Available
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Center for Environmental Health and Susceptibility’s Community Outreach and Engagement Core has released an online module titled “Environmental Asthma Triggers: A Training for Public Health Professionals.” The module “focuses on understanding asthma as a chronic lung disease,” as well as examining environmental exposures that worsen asthma. It…
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2018 USAsthma Summit Video Now Available Online
The Allergy and Asthma Network held the 2018 USAsthma Summit on November 16th, 2018. The recording of the conference is now available online. The conference discussed numerous topics, including severe asthma, inhaler confusion, barriers to care, the role of pharmacists, and advocacy. To view the Summit recording, click here.
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Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s PolicyLab Releases Brief on Reducing Repeat Hospital Visits for Children with AsthmaChildren’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s PolicyLab Releases Brief on Reducing Repeat Hospital Visits for Children with Asthma
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOP) PolicyLab has released a policy brief with recommendations for health systems and policymakers to help reduce hospital readmissions due to asthma. CHOP partnered with the Community Asthma Prevention Program in an effort to cut emergency department revisit rates for the highest-risk children with asthma. The brief details that intervention,…
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Researchers Examine Effects of Airport-Associated Ultrafine Particles on Lung Function
A September 2018 article in Environment International investigated the health impacts of airport-related ultrafine particle exposure, particularly around the Los Angeles International Airport. Researchers had a cohort of 22 non-smoking adults with mild to moderate asthma undergo mild walking activity on two occasions inside and outside of high ultrafine particle zones. After analyzing the results,…
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Union of Concerned Scientists Releases Fact Sheet on Inequitable Exposure to Air Pollution from Vehicles in California
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) has released a fact sheet, Inequitable Exposure to Air Pollution from Vehicles in California, which helps to demonstrate the strong need for programs California has developed to reduce vehicular pollution. The analysis highlights 1) the production of unhealthy air by cars, trucks, and buses, and 2) who bears the…
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Your Support Needed to Expand Access to Asthma Home Visiting Services in California
We need your letter of support to help advance SB 207, and a related budget appropriation, which would increase access to asthma education and home environmental trigger remediation among Medi-Cal beneficiaries with poorly controlled asthma. There is robust evidence showing that asthma education and in-home assessments improve the lives of people with asthma and reduce…
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Effects of Medication Adherence on COPD and Asthma Patients
Respiratory Research’s December 2018 edition contains a study investigating how medication adherence will impact quality of life “and symptom control in a typical population of patients with chronic lung disease.” Researchers used a cohort of 165 asthma and COPD patients who were taught correct application of inhaler devises using “pre-defined checklists of each inhaler type.”…
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Study Examines Links Between Pets and Respiratory Illness
In the October 2018 edition of the Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research an article investigates “the prevalence of asthma and lung function status among dog and cat owners.” Subjects were divided into groups of cat owners, dog owners and people with no pets. “Subjects underwent spirometry, bronchial challenge test with mannitol, skin prick…
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Article Examines Potential Targeted Therapies for Obesity-Related Asthma
The Journal of Immunology Research contains an article in its June 2018 edition examining potential targeted therapies for immune regulation in obesity-related asthma. The researchers note “obesity-related asthma is poorly controlled using conventional therapies,” so “alternative and complementary therapies are urgently needed.” In the article, researchers “describe the immune regulators of lipid metabolism in obesity…
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Influence of Obesity on New Pediatric Asthma Cases
Pediatrics released an article in November 2018 examining the link between obesity and pediatric asthma. Researchers compared asthma incidence among overweight and obese children with that of healthy-weight children aged two to seventeen. The study estimates that 23% to 27% of new asthma cases in children are directly caused by obesity. Researchers suggest that reducing…
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American Lung Association Releases Coping with Wildfire Smoke
The American Lung Association has released an animation as part of its outreach on the 2018 Californian wildfires. The animation provides tips for protecting lung health during wildfires. Currently available in English, the animation will soon be available in Spanish. To view the animation, click here.