Asthma Awareness Month: Part III
By Elias Rodriguez
On a rainy, Friday the 13th the last in a long line of seven children was born to a Puerto Rican immigrant in Manhattan’s Beth Israel Hospital. Yep! The Big Apple welcomed me as a native New Yorker once upon a time, but no one gave me a “heads-up” about New York City’s poor air quality. Sometime around grade school I recall seeing my classmate suffer a wheezing, intense, asthma attack. Thankfully, the teacher knew what to do and she had his inhaler handy. Having an Asthma Action Plan is one of the key tips EPA offers to people who suffer from asthma. Folks can learn to control their symptoms and still maintain active lifestyles.
Here are some simple steps:
Know your Asthma Triggers and Avoid Them: Air pollution, dust mites, mold, secondhand smoke and even cockroaches can trigger asthma attacks. Learn your triggers and avoid them in your home and neighborhood.
Create an Asthma Action Plan: You can help avoid the emergency room by managing your asthma daily. With a doctor’s help, you should create an asthma action plan to help you effectively manage your asthma and reduce exposure to triggers.
Get Active: Even if you have asthma, by taking the appropriate medications and avoiding your triggers, you can still participate in sports and activities.
Be ‘Air Aware’: Check local air quality conditions at airnow.gov and make informed decisions about participating in outdoor activities.
Effective execution of clean air laws has improved air quality in New York City significantly, yet it still remains important for people to manage their asthma by knowing the warning signs of attacks, avoiding things that can trigger asthma attacks, and following the advice of their healthcare providers. Children are especially vulnerable, but can learn to manage their asthma at an early age with the help of their doctors, teachers, friends, and families. So, keep up the good fight and learn to breathe easy!
About the Author: Elias serves as EPA Region 2’s bilingual public information officer. Prior to joining EPA, the proud Nuyorican worked at Time Inc. conducting research for TIME, LIFE, FORTUNE and PEOPLE magazines. He is a graduate of Hunter College, Baruch College and the Theological Institute of the Assembly of Christian Churches in NYC.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.