IAQ Tribal Partners Program
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Asthma Triggers
Asthma is a serious, sometimes life-threatening respiratory disease caused by inflammation of the airways. When the muscles surrounding the air passageways in the lungs become inflamed, the airways become smaller, making it more difficult for air to move in and out. This causes the characteristic symptoms of an asthma episode or an asthma attack: coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and wheezing.
Asthma triggers are things that make asthma worse. Air pollutants both indoors and outdoors, are common triggers of asthma symptoms and asthma attacks.
| Follow these links to more information on asthma triggers at www.epa.gov/asthma | |
Individuals with asthma must work with their health care provider to determine what triggers their asthma and to develop a written asthma management plan. Part of this plan includes steps to reduce triggers.
A recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that asthma affects almost 12 percent of people living in tribal communities—nearly double the current national average of 7 percent. Managing triggers is especially important for tribal communities who are disproportionately affected by asthma. Learn more about asthma and steps to reduce exposure to asthma triggers
Communities in Action for Asthma-Friendly Environments Online Network
AsthmaCommunityNetwork.org is a year-round resource for mentoring and collaboration designed to support your asthma management program. Access cutting-edge tools that facilitate collaboration, problem solving, and learning between leaders of asthma programs.
Learn more about
and join the Online Community Network
Find information on Webinars; Discussion Forums; National Locator; Action Strategies; Pacing Events; Tools; and Recognitions Opportunities.
| Spotlight: Aberdeen Asthma Prevention Campaign |
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Native American children suffer from asthma at a level almost twice that of the general U.S. population. The Asthma Prevention Campaign of the Aberdeen Area Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board (AATCHB) aims to improve asthma management for American Indians residing in the Aberdeen area (North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa) by providing asthma prevention and management information, and community and clinic trainings.
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Resources
- The
Native Asthma Intervention and Reduction Program (Native AIR)
, run by Montana State University Extension Service, provides a comprehensive
website of asthma resources and links for further information.
- Communities in Action for Asthma Friendly Environments Online Network (www.AsthmaCommunityNetwork.org
) provides field-tested strategies, a searchable resource bank, and mentor opportunities.
- NoAttacks.org
offers crucial information for families to reduce triggers in their homes, as well as a sample
asthma action plan
for families to complete with the help of their health care provider. Also
available here and on their website are
radio public service announcements
in Anishinaabe, Lakota, and Navajo. NoAttacks.org is a partnership between EPA and the Ad Council.
- Visit the American Lung Association’s (ALA)
Asthma Management
for information on everything from asthma medications to school asthma programs.
Materials
Native Asthma Intervention and Reduction Program (Native AIR) provides comprehensive resources and links for further information.
Aberdeen Area Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board Asthma Prevention Campaign and Toolkit. This toolkit provides information on creating an asthma action plan, starting an asthma registry, coordinating asthma teams, and much more.
Tribal Connections Newsletter
Health News in Brief from the Tribal Connections Website, a valuable database for health related resources for Native Americans and Alaska Natives.
- EPA’s Publications and Resources List for Asthma
- Asthma Fact sheet (PDF) (2 pp., 77 K, about PDF) highlights the most up-to-date asthma statistics (May 2008).
- Asthma Home Environments Checklist (PDF) (8 pp., 260 K) is designed to help home care visitors identify and mitigate environmental asthma triggers commonly found in and around homes.
- Asthma Action Plan
-
With a doctor's help, you can create an asthma action plan to help you take care of your child and reduce the triggers in your home.
- Help Your Child Gain Control Over Asthma - A low-literacy asthma management guide, providing parents with the information to improve their children's quality of life.
- Clearing the Air: 10 Steps to Making Your Home Asthma Friendly (PDF) (1 page, 36 K) is a one-page, step-by-step guide providing helpful hints for comprehensive asthma management.
- Dusty The Asthma Goldfish and His Asthma Triggers Fun book (PDF) (8 pp., 1.3 M) is an educational tool to help parents and children learn more about asthma triggers.
You can order EPA publications free of charge from EPA's National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP), visit their Web site (www.epa.gov/nscep)
Learn About IAQ
- IAQ in Tribal Communities
- Asthma Triggers
- Secondhand Smoke
- Radon
- Moisture/Mold
- Wood Smoke
- Carbon Monoxide
- Other Pollutants
We want your input
Have you planned a successful and sustainable community program? If so, we would like to know. Please send us an e-mail at iaqtribal@epa.gov describing the program, and that program could be highlighted here. We will follow up with the program directly to gather more information and permission to use their story.