While it is commonly thought that kids with asthma miss more school than their peers, a study published online in Chest from the Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas and the Dallas Independent School District finds asthmatic children do not miss any more school than their peers.

"We all know the devastating effect of untreated asthma on both academic and athletic performance, but our data suggests that the tide has turned, and with proper supervision and management, the impact of asthma can be minimized," according to lead author and medical director of the Baylor Lung Care Center Mark Millard, M.D. in a press release. "Parents should expect that their child with asthma should be able to compete with the same degree of success as non-asthmatic peers, with current asthma medications."

Dr. Millard points out the importance of school nurses in achieving these results. Nurses actively identified asthma patients and worked with primary care doctors to achieve good control and keep kids in school. "Any child in any school district can achieve good asthma control, if there is access to the right medications and oversight," Millard said. "A well-trained and empowered school registered nurse may be the best solution to deal with the problem of uncontrolled asthma in children."

Do your kids schools have school nurses and have you noticed a similar benefit? Leave a comment or join the discussion in the forum?

Source

Children With Asthma Miss More School: Fact or Fiction? Chest. 2009 Feb;135(2):303-6. Epub 2008 Oct 10.

The American Heart Association cautions people about participating in heavy exercise in the cold like snow shoveling. What about your asthma? Does snow shoveling affect your asthma? Take the poll and go to the forum to join the discussion.

In addition to a number of other chronic diseases, Beethoven had significant asthma. According to the Faces of Asthma, while Beethoven was composing his musical masterpieces, the  "bumbling doctors" of Vienna were unable to give him any relief from his asthma. Despite this, he was one of the world's most masterful composers.

Photo © Wikipedia user Kokin

Studies of asthma have revealed that as may as 74% of asthmatics have nighttime awakenings at least awoke at least once per week, while as many as 64% may have nocturnal symptoms 3 or more times per week. Importantly, as many as 40% asthmatics experience symptoms nightly.

Asthmatics may under appreciate nocturnal symptoms as a sign of poor asthma control. In another study, 26% of patients who rated their asthma as "mild" reported experiencing asthma symptoms like cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath nightly.

It is important to recognize these nighttime symptoms as poor control because a significant proportion of fatal asthma in adults and children from respiratory arrest and sudden death occurs between midnight and 8 a.m.

_Sources:

Sutherland ER. Nocturnal asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2005 Dec;116(6):1179-86.