ASTHMA INFORMATION FOR GMUHS STUDENTS
Asthma is a disease that causes lung inflammation by being exposed to certain allergen triggers. Shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, chest pain or tightness, fatigue can occur.
It is not known exactly the cause(s) of Asthma, but it may be a combination of triggers such as childhood illness, exposure to second hand smoke, and various environmental indoor/outdoor allergens.
Asthma is a chronic (long-term) disease in which the lungs become inflamed and airways narrow and react to "triggers." When the lungs become irritated, the airways swell and mucus builds up, causing shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, chest pain or tightness, tiredness or a combination of these symptoms. People with uncontrolled asthma often have difficulty sleeping and breathing, may miss school and work, and often face costly medical bills due to hospitalizations and emergency department visits. Asthma affects people of all ages, and most often starts during childhood.
In Vermont about 68,000 people have asthma, and nearly 9,600 are children. Fortunately, if a person with asthma gets an accurate diagnosis, learns to avoid asthma triggers, and takes medications as prescribed by a doctor, asthma can be controlled. People with asthma can live active, healthy lives.
If your son or daughter has Asthma and they use either medication or an
inhaler, he/she will require an Asthma Action Plan at GMUHS. If he/she
has mild Asthma and doesn't require a plan, please have your doctor write
a letter stating such and send it into the GM Health Office.
The Asthma Action plan is required to ensure proper asthma control at GMUHS. Obtain the form under the "Health Forms" tab on this web page to ensure proper asthma control. Your physician will fill it out according to your son/daughter's individual needs. The Permission To Carry Rescue Medication is a form that parents need to sign to give permission for the inhaler to be carried . It also states that your son/daughter knows the proper use of his/her inhaler.
A spare inhaler can be kept in the GM Health Office. You can find the Permission To Carry Inhaler Form under the "Health Forms" tab on the Home Page.
Figure A= the lungs
Figure B = Normal Airways
Figure C = Narrowing of the airways during Asthma symptoms
Example of An Asthma Action Plan (get form under "Forms" Tab on this website!
Managing your child's asthma includes doing all you can to avoid flare-ups. That means working with your child to:
take all medication as the doctor prescribed
keep rescue medicine on hand at all times
avoid triggers, such as allergens
Not all flare-ups can be prevented, and because they can be life threatening, they demand immediate attention. Your child might need to take rescue medication, visit the doctor, or even go to the hospital. For that reason, you should have an asthma action plan.
Work with the doctor to write this plan, which provides instructions on how to handle changes in your child's breathing. This will help you know exactly what to do, even in an emergency. Courtesy of Kids Health.org
To Find Out More About Asthma CDC
"The most recent National Institutes of Health guidelines... written management plans will reduce the occurrence of avoidable hospitalizations and ER visits. There are statewide efforts to increase the use of Vermont Asthma Action Plans; ...written management plans results in the desired benefit of improved quality of life for people in Vermont with asthma."
Vermont Department of Health, Disease Control Bulletin 2003
Video: Using a metered dose asthma inhaler and spacer
Watch this video to see how to use a metered dose asthma inhaler and spacer.