World Asthma Day

May 5th, 2009

“You Can Control Your Asthma”

THANK YOU

Professor Martyn Partridge

Bermuda 2009 Asthma Week

May 4th - 8th, 2009

Open Airways welcomed Professor Martyn Partridge, to Bermuda for our 2009 Asthma Week, and increased awareness that “You Can Control Your Asthma”.

Professor Partridge is the President of the British Thoracic Society and Professor of Respiratory Medicine at Imperial College, Lon-don. He is a world-renowned expert in the fields of asthma and COPD, is a current advi-sor to the World Health Organization, and is the author of many books and papers.

Professor Partridge was the guest speaker at BUEI for our Asthma Presentation. He also spoke on multiple occasions to physicians, nurses and other health care professionals throughout the island about asthma and COPD.

It was truly and honour and a privilege to have Professor Partridge in Bermuda. We look forward to the successful implementation of many of his ideas here in Bermuda, particu-larly using the internet for e-news and e-education.

Thank you Professor Partridge!

www.openairways.com SPRING 2009

A Letter from Liz

World Asthma Day 2009 was very special this year as we welcomed world renowned Professor Martyn Par-tridge to Bermuda. His very first suggestion (as we crossed the causeway from the airport) was that we should communicate with those who have asthma, our donors and our health care professionals using the internet. So here is our first E-newsletter! Through it we aim to keep the community in touch with our work and to make sure the very latest information about asthma is shared. We welcome suggestions and we en-courage anyone you know with asthma to contact us and sign up for the e-newsletter. We welcome Mary Ellen Ewles as a new enthusiastic member of our Open Air-ways team. Her specialty is IT and she has agreed to edit our newsletters.

Asthma week was an overwhelming success, hundreds of people reached out for help at each event. We realize that we have made great progress. We also realize that asthma is still misunderstood – people still cough and wheeze and limit their activities.

Our message is clear - asthma is TREATABLE!

Do NOT let asthma control your life -

YOU can control your asthma!

Professor Partridge‟s message was simple - everyone with asthma must have a personal action plan and learn to take control.

I should like to thank everyone who helped to make asthma week a success.

Liz Boden

President - Open Airways

Thank You! to Astra Zeneca

for sponsoring presentations by Professor Partridge.

How to spot poor control:

Do you have asthma symptoms more than twice a week? (cough, wheeze, tight chest)

Do you use your „reliever‟ blue inhaler more than twice a week?

Do you ever wake at night with asthma?

Do you ever have to restrict activities due to asthma?

Take control - get help today!

You should be able to have a full active unrestricted life!

What to do:

See your doctor and review every year – make sure you are on the very best treatment.

Take a list of questions with you.

Let your doctor know that you want to understand exactly when to take each inhaler and

what to do when your asthma symptoms are getting worse.

See an asthma nurse every year – get a personal action plan.

Learn how to fine tune your own treatment - TAKE CONTROL !

Why is asthma on the rise

around the world?

No one knows the reason why - the largest numbers of

people with asthma are seen in the developed countries,

so research is focused on finding the reasons why a per-son, who may be genetically predisposed to asthma and

allergies, suddenly starts to have symptoms.

Could it be diet? – Perhaps it is the simple fact that peo-ple do not eat enough fruit and vegetables? Busy people

on the run eat fast food. Additives, preservatives and

chemicals are added to so many things we eat.

Could it pollution? (Air quality both inside and outside

the home) Home environments have changed, in devel-

oped countries people spend about 97% of their time in-

doors. Household chemicals are widely used and TV ad-vertizing promotes sprays and plug-in air fresheners,

sprays to kill germs and many others to clean – these are

all irritants to sensitive airways and studies show their use may actually be the cause for asthma to start at any

age.

Are more mothers smoking and fewer breast feeding? Lifestyles are changing and children no longer play out-

side as much as they used to, instead they play with com-

puter games, watch TV etc. Babies sit in day-care in rocking and swinging seats instead of playing on their

tummies rolling, reaching and developing their airways?

What can you do to help?

Eat a healthy diet, rich in anti-oxidants, eat fresh foods

whenever possible and eat at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables every day. Expectant mothers should start this

habit even before conception.

Do not walk along busy roads. If you ride a bike try to plan your times or your route to avoid rush hour when

pollution is highest.

Stop using all household chemicals – open the windows

to freshen the air. Use Norwex microfiber cleaning cloths to clean your entire home without chemicals and

save hundreds of dollars each year! (For more informa-

tion contact Marti Chiappa BFMA@ibl.bm or call 296- 6833)

Mother’s should breast feed for at least 6 months and not

return to work during that time. Avoid day care for babies under 1 year, encourage babies to reach, roll, stretch and

enjoy tummy time and also get out in the fresh air each

day.

No one should be exposed to second hand smoke.

Encourage children to play outside running, climbing and

swimming is particularly good for airways. Adults should

also exercise as obesity is now risk factor asthma.

Notes from Professor Partridge’s Seminar - BUEI - May 7, 2009

Asthma - children under 5 years “Asthma cannot be accurately diagnosed in children

under the age of 5 years.” - Professor Martyn Partridge

Although asthma cannot be accurately diagnosed under age 5, many children will have asthma

symptoms – cough, wheeze, tight chest and shortness of breath. The majority of children under 5

will only get these symptoms when they get a cold. In between they are healthy and well and

rarely cough or wheeze.

Which children are more likely to continue to have asthma?

Children who have a family history of asthma or allergy (more likely if their mother has

asthma)

Children who have eczema and food allergies

However there is no definitive way of predicting which children will continue to have asthma.

Premature babies will often have asthma symptoms until they are 6 years old and continue to

have asthma if they have a family history of asthma and have eczema or food allergies.

Treatment - Asthma symptoms must be treated however young your child is.

Your Doctor must decide the best medication plan for your child. Do not be afraid to use the in-

halers prescribed, they are safe and effective. You must get an action plan and understand how

to fine tune your child‟s treatment when asthma symptoms get worse. You must know when to

seek emergency help.

Spacers must be used for all children using inhalers.

Open Airways provides free Able spacers.

Spacers with a mask must only be used for babies and children until they are 3 or

4 years of age. Only 3% of the medication reaches the tiny airways when you use

an Aerochamber with mask. Using an Able spacer you should be able to get 60%

into the airways. Make sure a nurse shows you how to use the spacer effectively,

How can you help?

Do not smoke in the home.

Do not use any household aerosols, sprays or plug –in air fresheners. Call Marti Chiappa and

get microfiber antibacterial cleaning cloths and clean your home with a vacuum and water only!

Save hundreds of dollars each year and help your children‟s lungs!

Babies should not sit in bouncy baby chairs, swings etc. for hours on end.

Massage your baby and encourage tummy time – this will help to develop the lungs and strong

upper body strength.

Enjoy the fresh air.

Children should not watch TV for hours on end but play outside, run, climb, play ball and swim!

Swimming is the best exercise for children with asthma. Play a wind instrument – a harmonica

or a trumpet! Young children can blow bubbles and windmills – great games to strengthen their

tiny lungs.

There is additional information available on our web-site www.openairways.com as well as links to

other sites. Visit the Australian website (see link from www.openairways.com) - provides excel-

lent advice for parents and computer games for children with asthma to help them learn more.

Lively Lunch & Learn Seminars FREE lunchtime seminars! Fun, Lively and extremely informative. Learn about all the triggers and current treatments of Asthma & COPD. Free spacers available too. Organize your work place, organization or a group of friends and give us a call. E-mail mewles@transact.bm or call 238-3261 to arrange a session.

VOLUNTEERS Open Airways is very proud and grateful for all the hard-work, effort and time our dedicated volunteers

put in to helping us with our mission and goals.

We would like to make special mention of 2 of our YOUTH Volunteers. Sierra Wilson (Warwick Academy) who has spent countless hours labeling brochures, preparing equip-

ment for use and many many other countless jobs.

& Catherine Cooke, for her computer expertise and assistance with keeping records and date informa-

tion up to date. Sarah has spent holiday time home from school assisting with this vital task.

THANK YOU SIERRA & CATHERINE !

Medications …what’s new?

There are 2 types of medications for asthma:

Preventers or controllers (Flixotide, Becotide, Qvar, and Pulmicort) these must be taken

every day even when you feel well. They may take up to 2 weeks to start helping.

Relievers or rescue inhales (Ventolin and Airomir) should not be part of your daily treat-

ment plan. Always carry with you just in case you have symptoms.

New combination medications – many people are now taking a combination medication

(Symbicort or Seretide/ Advair) these combine the reliever and the preventer. By combin-

ing the medications you actually use much less preventer – they are safe and easy to use

and patients love them! Why – because their action plan is easy to follow, therefore people

comply and bingo…they feel better! These combination medications were originally only to

be used for severe asthmatics but now low dose combinations are used by many mild asth-

matics. Many people only take one inhalation once a day to control their symptoms. Talk to your doctor to see if this is right for you.

Preventer tablets such as Singulair are also widely used but only help about 45% of people

and they do not usually give total relief from symptoms and need to be used with another

preventer as well.

Thank you Cathy Gosling & Rachel Moran (above) who participated in

the charity fund-raising event „Dog Agility‟ completion at the recent

“Agricultural Exhibition‟. They had a great time, finished 3rd, and

donated $250 to Open Airways. Big THANKS to both Cathy & Ra-

chel, and of course also to Lukas & Bella!

Open Airways - Awards of Excellence For outstanding contribution to asthma care in Bermuda

From left to right: Deann Trott - COPD (Dr. Campbell‟s Office); Jackie Simmons - COPD (Dr. Warner‟s

Office); Jennifer Wilson - School Asthma Nurse (Department of Health); Liz Boden - President Open Air-

ways; Sierra Wilson - Volunteer (Warwick Academy); Melca Moreno - Asthma (KEMH); and Lindsay

Manderson (Saltus Prep School Nurse).

Congratulations ALL Asthma and COPD graduates of our

International NRTC Diploma Courses

CATLIN End to End Our „Azmobiles‟ logged in many miles on

May 2nd, as our vans were used to help

transport those suffering the heat, or

perhaps just suffering from „sore feet‟.

Jennifer & Liz were seen buzzing along

the trails assisting, sometimes just

offering some a much needed „ride‟ !

Our thanks to „End to End‟ for their

very generous donation to Open Air-

ways this year, and in previous years as

the major sponsor of our famous -

AZMOBILES!

Asthma Course 2007 Veronica Coburn (Honours)

Beza Dagnachew Jannette Fox

Michelle Jacobs Lenie Kelly

Dr. Shaina Kelly Melca Moreno (Honours)

Colleen Watson Ann Wilson

COPD Course 2008 Beverley Brangman (Honours)

Malina Bunbury Deon Burrows

Dr. Gordon Campbell (Honours) Andrew Cooper (Honours)

Shirle Crockwell Beza Dagnachew Catherine Kempe

Terrylynn Lightbourne Casmo Morgan Janice Mullings

Jacqueline Simmons (Honours) Shirley Simons

Deann Trott (Honours) Elaine White Ann Wilson

To receive newsletter by e-mail, or to be removed from the e-mail distribution list, please contact:

Mary Ellen Ewles at mewles@transact.bm

We welcome suggested articles and/or comments for the newsletter as well. Thank you.

...this leaves YOU- 364 days, 23 hours, and 30 minutes to manage your long term illness – asthma!

You may see your doctor for

30 minutes a year ...

YOU can control your asthma!

WHO TO CALL:

Debbie Barboza at the KEMH Asthma Education Centre - 239-1652

Liz Boden at Open Airways - 232-0264

or e-mail lizboden@logic.bm

Jennifer Wilson (School Asthma Nurse) - 332-8915

There are also many asthma educators working in The Department of Health

clinics, in the community, in the schools, prisons, doctor‟s offices, pharmacies

as well as all departments of KEMH.