Tuesday, November 30, 2021

November Asthma Newsletter

Tips for managing your asthma this winter and other announcements
MDH logo

The Minnesota Asthma Program

Manage your Asthma this Winter Season

Man wearing scarf

The winter months can be difficult for Minnesotans with asthma because of triggers associated with winter and the holidays. Take steps to control your asthma. 

  • Cold, dry air can trigger asthma but you can avoid this by wearing a scarf around your nose and mouth to keep the air you breathe warm and damp. 
  • All kinds of smoke can trigger asthma, so it's best to avoid wood smoke, e-cigarette vapor, and cigarette smoke. 
  • Avoid using scented products such as candles, incense, and cleaning products.  
  • Live holiday trees and wreaths can contain mold and dust to build up. Consider allergy-friendly alternatives. 
  • Vacuum dusty holiday or winter decorations to avoid allergens. 

Continue to take your medications, follow your asthma action plan, and remember your inhaler technique. 

  • Take your controller medication as prescribed, carry your rescue medication with you, and follow your asthma action plan (AAP). 
  • Schedule a visit with your health care provider. 
  • Get your annual flu vaccine. 
  • Pack smart. If you're travelling across country or just for an overnight with friends or family, make sure all asthma medications are packed, inhalers are full (check the expiration date) and that the medications will last the length of the trip.
  • Remember your inhaler technique. 

For more information for patients, families, and caregivers on different types of triggers and how to avoid exposures to specific individual triggers, a MDH trigger information sheet is available in both English and Spanish.   

Learn more about improving your asthma during the winter season by visiting the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America's article, 5 Asthma and Allergy Tips for a Healthier Home for the Holidays.


Make sure you know how to use your inhaler. 

Improper inhaler technique can negatively impact asthma control. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American, up to 92% of people with asthma use their device incorrectly. 

The National Jewish Health inhaler technique videos or CDC asthma inhaler videos are great resources to review your technique.

Woman using an inhaler

School Health Services (ISD 191) asthma training results in successful partner collaboration


Children in the classroom

Two school districts, one hospital, MDH, and local public health working together to improve care for students with asthma.

 

Creating linkages and sharing knowledge across care settings is a great way to build capacity for schools and health systems to provide evidence-based asthma care and ensure that students' asthma is managed appropriately and is well-controlled.

An excellent example of a cross system collaboration is an August 2021 asthma training for Independent School District 191 school health services staff.

Judy Wohnoutka, a Public Health Nurse (PHN) with Dakota County Public Health, received a request from Bernadette Bien, Lead Licensed School Nurse (LSN) with Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191, to provide an asthma training for her school health services staff. The training resulted in a very successful collaboration that brought together two school districts, one hospital, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), and a Local Public Health agency.

The idea for the training was "sparked" during a school nurse meeting that resulted in Bernadette contacting Judy from Dakota County. Judy reached out to MDH Asthma Program RN Susan Ross for technical assistance. Susan sent out a request to RNs who had received asthma program funded scholarships to the Asthma Educator Institute (AEI), asking for volunteers to assist with this training. Chinyere Obasi, an LSN and asthma educator with St. Paul Public Schools ISD 625 accepted the opportunity. Chinyere reached out to Melissa Damas, a Respiratory Therapist (RT) with Children's Minnesota who Chi had worked with to implement an Asthma Friendly Schools Mini-grant training in her school a few years ago. Together, they provided an in-person, meaningful and well-received training for ISD 191 health services staff.

The one-hour training for thirteen school health services personnel included health assistants, LPNs, RNs, and LSNs. Participants were engaged in the training and asked important questions, which helped presenters clarify some confusing issues for attendees. MDH staff provided asthma resources including powerpoint slides and educational materials to support the training. 

"The success of the presentation reflected the effective collaboration of both the organizers and the presenters. Combining the clinical background of the RT and her educational knowledge made for an impactful training."

Chinyere Chi, LSN, ISD 625

"As a hospital practitioner, it's not often that I am able to collaborate with school nurses and combine our skill sets to help improve the care we provide to patients with asthma; so, this was especially enjoyable." 

Melissa Damas, RT, Children's Minnesota 

"The timing was perfect, because a student's asthma action plan at school included a powdered dose inhaler, which was covered in the training. The Respiratory Therapist (RT) was great and provided many user-friendly teaching tools and tricks when working with students and the LSN provided more of the scientific asthma information. Together they augmented each other."

Training Participant 

This collaboration between state, local public health, a hospital and two different school districts resulted in a unique and impactful educational experience – for all involved.

New Fact Sheet: Asthma among Middle & High School Students 

Asthma in Minnesota Students Factsheet

A new factsheet is available on the asthma webpage that uses data from the 2019 Minnesota Student Survey. Some  highlights from the factsheet: 

  • Asthma disproportionally impacts students of color and LGBTQ+ students
  • Students with asthma report participating in sports teams and physical activity as much as students without asthma.
  • Students with asthma also report experiencing more dental problems than students without asthma.

Visit Asthma Quick Facts to view the Asthma among Middle & High School Students (PDF) factsheet. If you have questions about the data, please email health.asthma@state.mn.us.

MN Public Health Data Access Portal – Asthma in Minnesota
The data access portal provides additional information on Asthma Emergency Department (ED) visits and Asthma Hospitalizations in Minnesota. Explore the data by viewing charts, interactive and static maps, or by selecting a asthma query.


RFP Now Open: Quit Partner™ Ambassadors

Quit Partner logo with tagline "Free help to quit your way" and URL QuitPartnerMN.com

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is requesting proposals to increase awareness and knowledge of Quit Partner programs in communities that are disproportionally impacted by commercial tobacco, which has led to higher commercial tobacco use.

To be eligible to apply, an organization must demonstrate the following:

  • Serves adults who use commercial tobacco at rates higher than the statewide average, including from communities of color, American Indian communities, and/or LGBTQ+ communities.
  • Previous experience with health promotion and engagement activities within the communities they serve.
  • Expertise working directly within their communities.

The RFP and application information can be accessed at  Request for Proposals for Quit Partner™ Ambassadors. Proposals must be submitted no later than 4:00 p.m. Central time on December 14, 2021.


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