FRESH AIR
A Newsletter for Breathe PA’s Supporters and Friends
The 6th Annual Breathing in the ‘Burgh Cruise was a Huge Success!
On Friday, June 21, 2019, Breathe Pennsylvania held 6th annual Breathing in the ‘Burgh COPD Cruise, hosting 183 guests impacted by chronic lung disease. “This event has been a way to bring people managing their lung diseases together, while learning about new therapies available to them. It’s become something people look forward to attending that we feel fortunate to be able to offer,” says Marianne Drevna, Director of Adult Lung Health Education and Programs at Breathe Pennsylvania. Dr. Tiffany DuMont, Allegheny Health Network Pulmonologist and Breathe Pennsylvania Board Member, was the featured speaker. Vendors included Blackburn’s Physician’s Pharmacy, Fisher & Paykel, and Philips RespirTech.
Lung Health Research Grants Announced
As part of our commitment to lung health research, Breathe Pennsylvania awarded three grants totaling $40,000 to local champions of lung health, including:
• Merritt Fajt
“The Impact of Longitudinal Allergy Changes on Asthma and Severe Asthma in Western Pennsylvania”
• Kathleen Oare Lindell
(pictured above with Dr. Frank Sciurba) –
“Early Integration of Palliative Care for Patients with Advanced COPD and their Caregivers”
• Brandy Hill
“Asthma Institute Registry (AIR)-environmental health assessment- a pilot study in the Mon Valley”
Congratulations to the awardees who are committed to helping western Pennsylvanians breathe better and live healthier.
Living with Severe Asthma
By Kristin Nowack, a severe asthma patient
Have you been diagnosed with severe asthma? I have been living with severe asthma and know the trials and tribulations one may face. Severe asthma is not your typical asthma as many of you know. Severe asthma as defined by the European Respiratory Society (ERS)/ American Thoracic Society (ATS) as “asthma which requires treatment with high dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) plus a second controller (and/or systemic CS) to prevent it from becoming ‘uncontrolled’ or which remains ‘uncontrolled’ despite this therapy.”
I was diagnosed with asthma when I was 3. I was in and out of the emergency department and in high school, I ended up in the ICU for two weeks. Fast forward a few years and I quickly became steroid-dependent and was diagnosed with steroid-resistant severe asthma. Those are words you never want to hear. To say I was scared was an understatement. I will be the first to tell you I was in denial. There was no way I was resistant to the mainstay of treatment for severe asthma; corticosteroids! I felt alone, scared and embarrassed. I was not going to let my severe asthma take control of my life. I completed my Doctorate of Nursing Practice on daily high dose IV steroids. Side effects of high dose steroids are truly awful. Weight gain, moon face, insomnia, diabetes and extreme emotions are just a few.
Living with severe asthma is a struggle. Although I don’t look sick, I have an invisible disease and struggle daily to breathe, often not even being able to walk across the room. I hide my disease very well and don’t want others to know I am having trouble breathing. I will always tell you, “I am fine,” even if I am not. I don’t want family and friends to worry. I don’t want them to cancel their plans because I can’t breathe “again.” Often times during a severe attack, I tell myself I am not sick enough to go to the emergency department because I am scared.
I have been on typical treatment for severe asthma; however, I did not respond to the medications and my symptoms kept getting worse. Prednisone is one of my main treatments, but not the typical lower dose that may be required to keep severe asthma symptoms under control. Every day I take 60mg of prednisone just to keep my symptoms somewhat manageable. By manageable I mean using my inhaler or nebulizer every two to three hours, while still wheezing and experiencing shortness of breath all day. I use a BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure) machine every night and require supplemental oxygen when I am extremely ill.
If you’re living with severe asthma, always remember:
1. You are NEVER alone – 5 to 10% of asthmatics suffer from severe asthma.
2. ALWAYS keep in close contact with your asthma doctor and follow your treatment plan.
3. You are NOT a burden on others; accept or ask for their help.
4. ALWAYS have your inhaler within reach. I always have my inhaler and carry prednisone with me.
5. Reach out to others with severe asthma.
6. New and effective treatments are available for some severe asthma patients.
7. If your asthma is uncontrolled, see an asthma expert for up to date treatment.
8. When in doubt about your breathing; don’t hesitate! Seek emergency treatment immediately.
The Teen Vaping Epidemic
Vaping has become a huge issue among teens and young adults, and Breathe PA is working to educate students, parents, and school staff about the issue. Between 2011 and 2018, the number of high school teens who started vaping increased from 220,000 (1.5%) to just over 3 million (20.8%), according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Data from the 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey shows that vaping among middle and high school students increased alarmingly between 2017 and 2018, with over 3.6 million kids using vapes in 2018. Vapes typically contain nicotine as well as other chemicals that are known to damage health including nicotine addiction, lung damage, respiratory health, compromised brain development which continues to age 25. The CDC reports more than 1,600 cases of vaping-associated lung injury (VALI) and 34 deaths. 15% of individuals with VALI are less than age 18, while 21% are between the ages of 18-20.
Can you tell the difference between the rescue inhaler and the dry leaf marijuana vaporizer?
Vaping devices can be hidden in plain sight, looking like everyday items such as highlighers, pens, hand lotions, and inhalers. Vape gear incorporates vaping mechanisms into sweatshirts and backpacks. The device on the left is a rescue inhaler used by an asthmatic. The device on the right is a vape.
In the 2018-19 school year Breathe PA served 1,300 youth through the Smokeless Saturday program, and trained 2,200 school personnel. In spring 2019 we hosted a Vaping Prevention Art Contest for 8th-10th graders throughout southwestern PA and chose Josie Baum (art pictured above), a student at Greater Latrobe Senior High School, as the winner.
On October 4, 2019 we joined Serra Catholic in a walk to help bring attention to the issues related to teen vaping. After the walk they presented Becky Kishlock of Breathe Pennsylvania with a $4,000 donation! Thanks to the Serra Catholic school community for hosting this important event and for your generous donation!
Cranberry Professional Park
201 Smith Drive, Suite E
Cranberry Twp., PA 16066
Breathe Pennsylvania Receives Standards for Excellence® Re-accreditation
Breathe Pennsylvania was honored at the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations’ (PANO) Annual Conference held in State College PA for achieving the Seal of Excellence by successfully completing the Standards for Excellence® accreditation program. This program is offered by PANO. Breathe Pennsylvania has demonstrated a deep commitment to organizational excellence and a high standard of accountability throughout their operations and governance.
Congratulations to Breathe Pennsylvania’s new slate of Officers, inducted on June 25, 2019!
President Bruce A. Bush, MD
Vice President
Nina Zetty, EdD
Secretary
Ross D. Chambers, CFP
Treasurer
James E. Gnecco
FRESH AIR | FALL, 2019