Luncheon workshop helps area residents manage asthma
April 2, 2002
KALAMAZOO-- Decreasing the number of lost work and school days due to asthma is the goal of a free public program set for 11:30 a.m. Thursday, April 11, at Western Michigan University.
The asthma management brown bag workshop is being sponsored by WMU's Office of Health Promotion and Education in the Sindecuse Health Center. Registration is limited to 30 people, so those wishing to attend are encouraged to make their reservations as soon as possible.
During the workshop, participants will be updated on the prevalence and severity of asthma, symptom and trigger identification, and strategies to reduce the frequency and severity of attacks. Tips for enhancing the quality of asthma management also will be provided.
Asthma is the fourth leading cause of work loss among adults, resulting in nine million lost workdays each year.
Among children, asthma is the leading cause of school absences from chronic illness for those ages 5 to 17. Children with asthma spend an estimated 7.3 million days per year restricted to bed, with the illness accounting for an annual loss of more than 10 million school days per year and more hospitalizations than any other childhood disease.
To register for the asthma management workshop or for more information, call the Office of Health Promotion and Education at (269) 387-3263.
Media contact: Jeanne Baron, 269 387-8400, jeanne.baron@wmich.edu