The Mid-Michigan Asthma Coalition’s free asthma help event for area residents, “Not One More Life (NOML)” is Saturday, October 26, 2013 at Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church at 3500 West Holmes Road, from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. The NOML event was originally developed by Dr. LeRoy Graham of Atlanta, Georgia to help adults and children experiencing breathing difficulties gain the knowledge needed to make informed decisions about their health.
The 10/26 event features:
· Pulmonary function tests with respiratory therapists, to evaluate breathing problems
· Consultation and asthma action plan development with:
o Dr. Hennessey of the Okemos Allergy Center and/or
o Drs. Dave and Satish Gupta (allergist and asthma specialists)
o Dr. Gregoire-Bottex, Western Michigan University (pediatric pulmonologist) and/or
o Tina Brenner, RN, AE-C (certified asthma educator) of the Ingham County Health Department
· Presentation from Marti Gilmet, RT (respiratory therapist) of Diagnostic and Respiratory Services
· Flu shots*, spacers and/or peak flow meters for NOML participants in need of these items, provided by Ingham County Health Department and Asthma and Allergy Foundation of Michigan
· Resource fair coordinated by Michigan Environmental Council, with registration for free and/or low-cost health insurance, Healthy Homes information, outdoor air health options, and more
· Halloween games and prizes for kids, adults and families, including gift-card raffles, coordinated by MMAC members and volunteers
MMAC is a coalition of residents, doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, insurance groups, environmental and faith groups, and other public and private healthcare providers working to drive down asthma hospitalizations and deaths—which are far higher in Mid-Michigan than the rest of Michigan and exceed the Centers for Disease Control “Healthy People” targets. The coalition is especially concerned with the growing disparity in asthma outcomes among different groups. In Mid-Michigan in 2010, there were 41.6 hospital stays for asthma per 1,000 black residents, vs. 14.3 per 1,000 white residents.
Access to healthcare services, medications and immunizations; healthy behaviors; and healthy indoor and outdoor environments are all key components in controlling many chronic health conditions, including asthma. NOML is designed to help residents address each of these key components. The event is made possible by the organizations listed above and the Michigan Department of Community Health, American Lung Association, Physicians Health Plan, CACS Head Start, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, MI Air MI Health Coalition, South Lansing Community Development Association, Carefree Medical and Dental Center, Southside Community Coalition and Power of We Consortium.
*Residents with health insurance seeking flu shots are asked to bring their insurance information. Flu shots will be provided to uninsured residents for $34, which can be billed on a sliding scale for those 18 years old or younger.
Asthma Symptoms
If you have asthma, you may
experience one or more of the
following
symptoms:
WHEEZING:
A whistling sound usually heard when breathing in or out.
COUGHING:
A cough that may not go away and often occurs or worsens at night.
CHEST TIGHTNESS:
Feeling as if something is squeezing or sitting on your chest.
SHORTNESS OF BREATH:
Feeling as though you can’t catch your breath. You may feel as though you are breathless, out of breath, or can’t get enough air out of your lungs.
The severity and frequency of asthma symptoms can vary depending on how well controlled your asthma is, your exposure to asthma triggers, and other factors.
If you’re not meeting certain asthma goals as determined by your healthcare provider, you may be just coping with, rather than controlling, your symptoms.
This was printed in the October 20, 2013 – November 2, 2013 Edition
