Asthma

People who believe they have control over their asthma are likely to report better asthma-related health status, according to a new study.

Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the body's airway tissues that afflicts millions of people in the United States. People with asthma experience shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing and wheezing. These symptoms intensify during an asthma attack, which occurs when exposure to allergens or other stimuli further inflame the airways, leading to an inability to expel trapped air from the lungs.

Asthma affects people in different ways and to various degrees. A study conducted by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, suggests that a patient's perceived control (a measure of a patient's beliefs about their ability to control their disease) can influence the severity of the condition.

The researchers evaluated data on 865 adults hospitalized for asthma. Telephone interviews were used to gather information from the patients after their discharge. The researchers collected demographic information, as well as information on asthma history and perceived asthma control. They then measured emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations for asthma over time, with a median follow-up time of 1.9 years.

After reviewing the data, the researchers found that greater perceived control was associated with better physical health status, better asthma-related quality of life, fewer days of restricted activity due to asthma and lower asthma severity scores. Greater perceived control was also associated with significantly decreased prospective risk of ED visits and asthma-related hospitalizations. There was no connection found between perceived control and most aspects of preventive care or self-management.

Motherhood idea

Can I rant for a second? And no, not about my kids. Rather about my city and their complete lack of decency and common sense.

On Friday it started snowing about 10 am. It came down for several hours, and not that dreamy white fluff that you see on Christmas commercials - the thick, heavy, wet snow. By about 3 pm it switched to ice pellets, and that continued until about 11 pm. From there it snowed again until the early morning. Of course, being the weekend, the snow removal crews only did absolute necessities as far as clearing the roads were concerned.

By Sunday night, they were out doing a better job in preparation for the Monday morning commute. So this morning, my daughter and I headed off to school and we passed all the nicely cleared sidewalks on the main streets. Then we turned onto the school’s street. Once we got out to walk to the drop-off point, the entire sidewalk disappeared. It was buried under mountains of snow, so we had to walk out in the street, hoping we wouldn’t get hit by all the OTHER driving parents, most of whom apparently missed the memo that the front of the school is for handicapped access only, and that they’re meant to park further down like the few law-abiding parents do (ahem). There was so much snow piled up in front of the teachers’ parking lot that one poor teacher got her car stuck and a guy in a truck had to help pull her out with some chains he had. Then he drove back and forth over the mound until it was flattened enough for people to drive in.

The kicker? JUST beyond the school grounds? The sidewalk was cleared.

I’m not sure why the city didn’t clear in front of the school but it’s not the first time that’s happened. It’s dangerous and it ticks me off like you wouldn’t believe. When I picked her up nothing had been done yet but at least they put out the no parking signs that they use when they want people to know they’ll be clearing the snow overnight. I certainly hope that it’s clear by tomorrow because otherwise I’m going to have to send a letter to complain to the city. There’s no excuse for young children having to walk out on the streets because the city can’t clear a quarter of a block for a school zone. Grr!