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Tell
us what you think about this series, about health care in the
state, or how to improve the quality of life in Appalachia. Send
us your comments now to weku@eku.edu,
or to Simple Changes, WEKU, 102 Perkins Building, 521 Lancaster
Avenue, Richmond, KY 40475.
Simple
Changes is a year-long exploration of chronic illness in Appalachian
Kentucky produced by public radio station WEKU and Pattie A. Clay
Regional Medical Center in Richmond, Kentucky. The project is
funded by Sound
Partners for Community Health. |
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According
to the Centers for Disease Control, chronic illness is among the
most common and costly health problems. They are also among the
most preventable.
So
what is a chronic disease? Medical experts define it as a condition
that lasts a year or longer, limits what a person can do, and
won't go away on its own.
If
you live in the Appalachian counties of southeastern Kentucky,
your chance of having a chronic health problem is generally far
greater than if you live in other parts of the United States.
While
many chronic diseases are present in the region, here is some
information to help you understand some of the most prominent
conditions.
| Asthma |
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Asthma
is a chronic disease of the airways that causes recurrent
and distressing episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest
tightness and nighttime or early morning coughing. During
an attack (or episode), muscles around the airways constrict,
and less air passes in and out of the lungs. Excess mucus
forms in the airways, clogging them even further. The episode,
can include coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, and difficulty
breathing. Asthma can be hard to diagnose and to differentiate
from other respiratory illnesses. The disease is common
to all age groups, but the steepest recent increases in
asthma cases are among young people. |
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Are
you at risk for developing asthma? Take our quick
quiz now.
Patient
Profile |
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Maxine
Ritchie |
Ritchie,
52, of Hazard has had asthma since she was 9-months
old. "If you really want to know what an asthma
attack feels like, you jog in place for one minute,
you pinch your nose off and try to breathe through
a straw," says Ritchie. "For a severe
attack you do that and try to breathe through the
straw you stir your coffee with." Her life
with asthma has led Ritchie to a career as an asthma
educator working with children.
Listen
to her story. |
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| Risk
Factors |
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A
family history of asthma or allergies; bronchitis; early exposure
to dust mites, tobacco smoke or or other airborne substances.
Males are considered to be at greater risk to asthma in childhood. |
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| Signs
of Asthma |
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Coughing
during or after exercise; nighttime coughing; shortness of
breath; wheezing while breathing; tightness in the chest;
fatigue. |
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| Asthma
in Kentucky |
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Some
300,000 people in the Commonwealth have asthma, most of them
under age 45. According to 1997 figures, 86 Kentuckians died
due to disease. Minority populations, particularly African-Americans,
experience a disproportionate share of deaths from asthma. |
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| Learn
More About Asthma |
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Printable
Brochure about Asthma (requires Adobe Acrobat
Reader) |
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Caring
for a Child with Asthma |
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American
Lung Association of Kentucky Asthma
Page |
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National
Institutes of Health's Asthma
Information |
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