Asthma Awareness Workshop Held at Susan's Place

In 2017, about two-thousand visitors to Care for the Homeless’ (CFH) clinics were known to suffer from asthma. Asthma is a lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The disease causes recurring periods of wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing, which can be very frightening and painful. It may surprise you to learn that although it is a manageable disease, asthma is one of the leading causes of visits to an emergency room which is the most expensive form of treatment. But if left untreated, sadly, it can lead to death. This most tragic outcome can be avoided with proper treatment, care and knowledge. This is why our Population Management and Staff Training (PMST) team regularly holds asthma education events at our health centers. The most recent event was held at Susan’s Place that included an education workshop and walk-in visits with the on-site provider.

Twenty-two women visited the health center to create asthma action plans with their provider. An asthma action plan provides instruction and information on how to self-manage one’s asthma daily, including taking medications appropriately, and identifying and avoiding exposure to allergens and irritants that can bring about asthma symptoms. While discussing their asthma action plan, patients also learned how to recognize and handle worsening asthma, and when, how, and who to contact in an emergency. Patients were also asked to do a peak flow test, which measures the strength of a patient’s breath to determine how severe their asthma is.

Most of the women met with a member of the team. With the PMST team, patients discussed how to prevent asthma attacks by learning techniques to avoid triggers. To achieve this, the provider looks at what triggers the patient’s asthma, when it happens, and where the patient normally is when it does. Common asthma triggers include tobacco smoke, dust mites, outdoor air pollution, cockroach allergen, pets, mold, and grass. Monitoring what triggers a patient’s asthma is important so they know how to reduce their risk of an asthma attack. By all measures, it was a successful event, helping homeless individuals take control over their asthma so it doesn’t control them!

We would also like to thank YOU for your continued support to make events such as the Asthma Workshop possible. Your support insures that people who are experiencing homelessness continue to receive vital and positive health information from our dynamic Population Management and Staff Training team. Thank you!