With asthma more prevalent, study calls for better patient education – American Medical News

With asthma more prevalent, study calls for better patient education
American Medical News
Educating patients with asthma about how to manage the chronic respiratory condition and avoid exposure to irritants could improve the health of this growing group of Americans, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Health Experts Say Food, Environment Can Affect Asthma SufferersVoice of America

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Pregnant smokers ‘could make babies more prone to asthma by altering DNA’ – Daily Mail


Telegraph.co.uk

Pregnant smokers 'could make babies more prone to asthma by altering DNA'
Daily Mail
By Daily Mail Reporter Mothers who smoke during pregnancy could alter their baby's DNA, making them more prone to asthma, new research suggests. Experts already know that children are more vulnerable to asthma and wheezing if their mother smoked,
Smoking while pregnant 'triggers asthma through DNA changes'Telegraph.co.uk
Maternal smoking causes changes in fetal DNAEurekAlert (press release)
When Pregnant Mom Smokes, Baby's DNA May ChangeMSN Health & Fitness
121doc –Doctors Lounge
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Asthma and the Enviorment

Environmental Triggers may Contribute to the Development of Asthma says New Study

The Times of India is reporting that a new study by the Shanghai Women’s Health Asthma and Allergy has suggested that an impaired ability to handle oxidative stress that arises from exposure to secondhand smoke and other environmental triggers may contribute to the development of asthma.

The results suggest regulating the body’s antioxidant defense system may play an important role in asthma prevention.

“We found that the host antioxidant defense system is compromised among those destined to develop asthma, and therefore these individuals may be less able to handle environmental exposures that may cause asthma,” said study author Emma Larkin, research assistant professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center

The researchers collected data from 65,732 women with no history of asthma who completed standardized questionnaires about asthma diagnoses and symptoms on two occasions following enrollment.

From this group, the researchers selected 150 women with confirmed new development of asthma and 294 healthy controls. Levels of antioxidants and other enzymes associated with oxidative stress were measured from blood and urine samples prior to asthma development.

Questionnaire data indicated 96 per cent of the women were never-smokers and 44 per cent were exposed to secondhand smoke through husbands or workplace exposure.

“Exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of asthma, and we believe that our ability to combat the detrimental effects of environmental exposures such as secondhand smoke through antioxidant enzyme defense is very important,” Larkin said.

The researchers found that increased host antioxidant defense enzyme activity measured prior to disease onset was associated with a reduction in risk of asthma. Specifically, high levels of an enzyme that prevents the formation of platelet-aggregating factor (PAF), which is linked with asthma, were associated with a decreased risk of asthma.

The study will be presented at the ATS 2011 International Conference said the Times of India report.

Asthma Affects 4.3 Million More People In 8 Years In USA – Medical News Today


Campus Progress

Asthma Affects 4.3 Million More People In 8 Years In USA
Medical News Today
25 million Americans in 2009 suffered from asthma, compared to about 20 million in 2001, in 2001 7% of the country's population was affected, in 2009 8% were affected. In just eight years the number of people diagnosed with asthma grew by 4.3 million,
Asthma Rates on the Rise in USWebMD
Asthma Rates Climb for Children, AdultsWall Street Journal
CDC: Asthma Rates on the RiseFox News
The Augusta Chronicle –Los Angeles Times –Highlight HEALTH
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Despite Better Air Quality, More People Suffer Asthma – FairWarning


Fox News

Despite Better Air Quality, More People Suffer Asthma
FairWarning
Despite improvements in air quality and anti-smoking measures, asthma has increased in recent years. About one in 12 Americans are now afflicted by the lifelong respiratory disease, the Centers for Disease Control and
Asthma Rates Climb for Children, AdultsWall Street Journal
CDC: Asthma Rates on the RiseFox News
Cases of asthma continue to riseThe Augusta Chronicle
Los Angeles Times –U.S. News & World Report –Highlight HEALTH
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UK doctors need more training to treat asthma – European Lung Foundation


BBC News

UK doctors need more training to treat asthma
European Lung Foundation
Doctors in the UK do not receive enough training in treating asthma, according to a new study released on World Asthma Day. Just under two-thirds said they felt public awareness of asthma could be improved while 47% admitted their own knowledge was
Call for more GP asthma trainingBBC News
'Lack of asthma training is putting patients' lives at risk'WalesOnline
Asthma deaths 'could be cut with GP training'Metro
Yorkshire Post –TopNews United States –The Independent
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Call for more GP asthma training – BBC News


BBC News

Call for more GP asthma training
BBC News
Two-thirds of GPs in Wales feel that doctors' knowledge of asthma could be improved, a survey suggests. Asthma UK Cymru's John Mathias said the findings showed asthma training is not being given the priority it deserves. Fifty Welsh GPs were among 1000
'Lack of asthma training is putting patients' lives at risk'WalesOnline
Risk to asthma patientsYorkshire Post
GPs' poor asthma training 'risks lives'The Independent
Scotsman –Express.co.uk
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