Big Sky Times

The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) and the Montana Asthma Control Program (MACP) are recognizing World Asthma Day on May 7, 2024, as part of National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. This year's theme is "Asthma Education Empowers."

"Asthma is a common chronic disease of the respiratory tract affecting children and adults," said BJ Biskupiak of the MACP for DPHHS. "While asthma can be controlled, asthma attacks can cause adults to miss work and children to miss school."

Various factors, including environmental, genetic, and lifestyle factors, are associated with an increased risk of asthma. The Montana Asthma Home Visiting Program (MAP) offers free education and support to residents living with uncontrolled asthma.

"The good news is that we can raise awareness about asthma and how it can be controlled," Biskupiak added. "It's essential that individuals receive the necessary education and medical management to effectively manage their condition and respond early to attacks."

Results from the MAP show positive outcomes, with participants reporting improvements in managing their asthma and experiencing fewer symptoms. The program aims to reduce emergency department visits and enhance overall quality of life for individuals with asthma.

For more information on the MAP and other MACP initiatives, visit asthma.mt.gov. Additional resources on asthma can be found at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website www.cdc.gov/asthma and the Global Initiative for Asthma website.

For air quality information, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality provides useful resources at https://deq.mt.gov/air/ and http://todaysair.mtdeq.us/. The U.S. Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offer a national fire and smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/.