Health: CDPC: Asthma

Overview

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that affects over half a million children and adults living in Indiana. Asthma can be controlled but not cured. In a person with asthma, airways can swell and tighten making it hard to breathe.

Asthma is a serious health condition, but it doesn't have to slow you down! With proper management of triggers and control of symptoms, people with asthma can lead a full, healthy life.

Signs and Symptoms
Asthma symptoms vary from person-to-person, but common signs and symptoms include:
- Coughing (especially if occurring during early mornings or at night)
- Wheezing
- Chest tightness or pain
- Breathlessness
Asthma symptoms can vary from day-to-day and are experienced differently by each individual who suffer from it, thus it is important to find the best treatment option(s) to help you gain control over your asthma. It can be hard to tell if someone has asthma, so it is important to check with your doctor if you frequently experience any of these symptoms.
Risk Factors
- Genetics
  - It is more likely that you will have asthma if a parent, or another immediate family member, has it
- Environmental factors
  - Exposure to mold, allergens such as dust mites, air pollution, etc.
- Occupational factors
  - Exposure to irritants at work such as wood dust or chemicals
- Having a severe respiratory infection as a child
- Tobacco use (or exposure to tobacco smoke)
Treatment

There is no cure for asthma but, it can be managed with proper asthma medication (including proper usage of the medication) and by avoiding exposure to personal asthma triggers. One of the most effective ways to achieve well-controlled asthma is to personalize an asthma action plan with your doctor. These personalized asthma action plans help to: guide patient self-management, explain the what/when/how of their medication, detail the signs and symptoms of worsening asthma, and prepare patients to respond in case of an asthma-related emergency. It is necessary that we use asthma action plans to help patients achieve well-controlled asthma.
Triggers
Asthma triggers are various irritants and substances that can trigger asthma symptoms, and in even worst cases, asthma attacks. Some asthma triggers include pollen, dust mites, indoor mold, tobacco smoke, outdoor air pollution, wood smoke, exercise, stress, and many more.
Tips to help control asthma:
- Maintain routine medical visits
- Discuss asthma symptoms, triggers, medications, and side effects with a healthcare provider
- Avoid smoking and being around others who are smoking
- Take medications as prescribed by a healthcare provider
- Work with health care providers to create an Asthma Action Plan that includes information concerning daily treatment, medications, short and long-term control measures, and when to seek medical treatment
- Ensure immediate access to quick-relief medication
- Limit exposure to your triggers
- Review potential triggers in your home

Asthma Resources

Resources for Clinicians
Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma
- National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) Contains comprehensive guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma. The guidelines emphasize the importance of asthma control and introduce new approaches for monitoring asthma.
Continuing Education and Training
Asthma Educator Institute
The Asthma Educator Institute™ (AEI) is a two-day preparatory course for individuals that want to implement asthma guidelines-based care and those qualified to take the National Asthma Educator Certification Board (NAECB) examination. The AEI was developed by experts in the field of asthma and it reflects the National Institute of Health, Expert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma.
Learn more about the Asthma Educator Institute and sign up here
Online Resources for Healthcare Providers
- Asthma Guideline Implementations Steps and Tools (GIST) A set of simple tools developed by the Michigan Department of Community Health to assist healthcare providers in making treatment decisions for their asthma patients.
- Asthma IQ The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) has created an online continuing education program to assist primary care providers with the implementation of asthma guidelines.
- 15- Minute Asthma Visit The Center of Disease Control and Prevention has added a video where Dr. David Callahan outlines how clinicians can provide evidence-based care for patients with asthma in a 15-minute office visit. To find the video click the link and scroll all the way down to videos where you will find the 15-Minute Asthma Visit video.
- Evidence Summary: Control Asthma The CDC is partnering with healthcare purchasers, payers, and providers to improve health and control health care costs. CDC provides these partners with rigorous evidence about high-burden health conditions and associated interventions to inform their decisions to have the greatest health and cost impact. This initiative aligns evidence-based preventive practices with emerging value-based payment and delivery models.
Additional Resources
Resources for Schools and Childcare
The ALA Asthma Friendly Schools Initiative
The ALA Asthma Friendly Schools Initiative provides a framework and tools that communities and schools can use to work together on a comprehensive approach to asthma management, including planning tools, policy recommendations, and education programs. With the goal of working towards improving student heath, attendance, and academic achievement, IKE established a voluntary award opportunity to acknowledge schools with exceptional asthma management programs. The most basic and essential activities fall under the bronze level award. Successive award levels include additional activities and require more effort, resulting in progressively stronger programs and culminating in a Platinum level award. The Asthma Friendly Schools recognition levels represent points of progress toward the goal of improved asthma management, because every small step makes a difference. For more information on this program please email IDOHAsthma@health.IN.gov.
Asthma Inhalers Poster
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is dedicated to saving lives and reducing the burden of disease for people with asthma and allergies through support, advocacy, education, and research. There are different types of asthma medicines and treatments. This printable Asthma Inhalers Poster provides information on asthma inhalers available in the United States market (as of April 2024).
Asthma Emergency Care Plan
The key component to asthma management is maintaining an individualized Asthma Action Plan for each student with asthma. Indiana Public Schools do not require the use of a specific plan. Numerous print, electronic and computer-based interactive plans are provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to assist school nurses in choosing the best plan for use in their schools.
Winning with Asthma: Coach's Clipboard
"Winning with Asthma" is a program designed to educate sports coaches about the effects of asthma on athletes.
Indoor Air Quality Rule
The Indiana Department of Health Environmental Public Health Division Indoor Air Quality program enforces the Indoor Air Quality in Schools and State Agencies (410 AIC 33), provides technical assistance, and educates the public. The following links provide a review of the School IAQ Rule and an overview of the school inspection process. There are also numerous best practices resource documents to assist schools in meeting the requirements of 410 IAC 33.
Additional Resources
Resources for Citizens
Asthma Basics
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that affects over half a million children and adults living in Indiana. Asthma can be controlled but not cured. In a person with asthma, airways can swell and tighten making it hard to breathe. When an asthma attack happens, the inside of the airways swell and fill with mucus. The muscles around the airways tighten. This makes the airways smaller. Some of the most common symptoms of asthma include wheezing, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, and coughing.
People with asthma can help control their symptoms by managing triggers in their environment. Triggers include anything that brings on asthma symptoms, and they differ for each person with asthma. Some triggers include dust mites, cigarette smoke, perfumes and fragrances, mold, pet dander, cockroaches, and stressful or emotional situations.
People with asthma should talk to their doctor about developing an asthma action plan. Asthma action plans help people with asthma to manage their symptoms. Plans include a list of triggers, how to avoid them, information on medications and when they should be taken, and emergency telephone numbers.
Asthma is a serious health condition, but it doesn't have to slow you down! With proper management of triggers and control of symptoms, people with asthma can lead a full, healthy life. Keep reading for more information on managing asthma.
Asthma Medication Assistance Programs
The Children's Health Alliance of Wisconsin's asthma medication assistance website has coupons and resources to assist patients in receiving free or reduced-cost asthma medications.
Asthma Action Plans
Everyone with asthma needs their own Asthma Action Plan. Work with your health care provider to create a plan that works for you. Your goal is to prevent and control your asthma symptoms and attacks. Find the template that works best for you and your needs; sample templates include:
- CDC template
- AAFA template
- ALA template
- AAN template
- Wallet-size action plan - National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Asthma Self-Management
Breathe Well, Live Well is an adult-focused program, and asthma self-management education is essential for all asthma patients. Asthma self-management refers to the things you can do for yourself to keep your asthma in control, have fewer asthma symptoms, breathe easier and live a full and active life. The American Lung Association (ALA) hosts free educational resources online. The Allergy & Asthma Network (AAN) has a free online Asthma Coach available. Talk with your health care provider about other asthma self-management topics to best support your needs.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
The AAFA is offering three new resources for parents and asthma educators. The first is Wee Breathers^TM. This program is designed to help educate children under the age of seven about the basics of asthma management. The program is available online free of charge. Secondly, the Asthma Management and Education Online program is designed as a resource for asthma educators wishing to improve their knowledge of asthma management. The program also allows respiratory therapists and nurses a chance to earn seven free continuing education credits. The third resource being offered is the Asthma Basics or Children curriculum. This set of three books is designed to provide asthma educators the content needed for educating staff and parents about asthma management.
For Kids!
- American Academy of Allergy Asthma &Immunology (AAAAI) Just for Kids-Website features asthma-related asthma and allergy games, activities, stories and videos for children
- A Is for Asthma!
Additional Resources
General Resources

Data

Estimated Asthma Prevalence for Indiana in 2021¹:

Adult Age-Adjusted Current Asthma Rate - 10.2%
Adult Age-Adjusted Lifetime Asthma Rate - 15.3%
Child Age-Adjusted Current Asthma Rate - 6.3%
Child Age-Adjusted Lifetime Asthma Rate - 9.4%

Source: 1| CDC and Indiana Department of Health Data Analysis Team [IDOH DAT]. (2023). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Data, 2021.

Asthma

Overview

Asthma Resources

Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma

Continuing Education and Training

Online Resources for Healthcare Providers

Additional Resources

The ALA Asthma Friendly Schools Initiative

Asthma Inhalers Poster

Asthma Emergency Care Plan

Winning with Asthma: Coach's Clipboard

Indoor Air Quality Rule

Additional Resources

Asthma Basics

Asthma Medication Assistance Programs

Asthma Action Plans

Asthma Self-Management

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

For Kids!

Additional Resources

Data

Fact Sheets

Reports, Surveillance, and Presentations

Additional Information

Data Requests