The NO-ROACH Asthma Prevention Project Asthma is the most common chronic disease in children, affecting over 7 million children in the United States. There is no cure for asthma, but it can be managed and treated so children can live normal, healthy lives.
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he NO-ROACH (New Orleans Roach Elimination and Asthma in Children) Project is a twelve month asthma prevention project currently underway in New Orleans and surrounding areas. Dr. Felicia Rabito, a local researcher from Tulane University’s School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine has found that asthmatic children who are exposed to cockroaches are four times more likely to be hospitalized as compared to other children with asthma who do not have cockroaches in the home. Due to these findings, Dr. Rabito has started the NO-ROACH PROJECT to find new ways to reduce asthma attacks through cockroach control in the home.
Photo by Kevin Blakes
The NO-ROACH PROJECT team is enrolling 100 children between the ages of 5-17, and their families, to participate in this free asthma prevention project. The child must live in the greater New Orleans area, have doctor diagnosed asthma, have no plans to move in the next 12 months, and have seen at least 1 cockroach in the home in the past month. Cockroaches will be exterminated from the home and environmental sampling will also be done in the home. Lung function tests and blood allergy tests will be performed for free on participating children. There is monetary compensation for qualified participants. After the 12 months, the NO-ROACH team will determine whether cockroach elimination in the home reduces children’s asthma attacks and hospital visits. “Why do children in the inner city have worse asthma, even when they are taking their medicines, even when they have access to health care? Why are their asthma outcomes worse?” These are questions the NO-ROACH PROJECT hopes to answer.
If you would like to participate in the NO-ROACH PROJECT or to learn more, please call (504) 988-6266 or email asthmastudy@tulane.edu.
Who Can Maintain a Healthy Weight?
We Can!
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by Daphne P. Ferdinand, PhD, RN
verweight and obesity is a growing problem facing all of us in the United States. More than two-thirds of adults are either obese or overweight. Over the past 30 years, obesity rates doubled among children aged 2–5 years and adolescents 12-19 years. What is even more amazing is that obesity tripled in children 6–11 years! If we continue this trend, it is expected that 50% of Americans will be obese by 2030. Obesity is a serious health condition that increases your risk for developing heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, strokes, certain cancers, sleep apnea, gallstones, osteoarthritis, and other conditions. It requires a call to action for all members of the community to get involved and make a difference in the health of our families and communities. How do you know if you are obese? Obesity is defined by measuring the body mass index or BMI calculated from your height and weight. Adults with a healthy body weight have a BMI less than 25. Those who are overweight or have too much weight for your height would have a BMI in the range of 25-29.9. Adults who are obese have a BMI of 30 or higher. BMI in children and teens, 2-20 years is also measured using height and weight, but compared along growth charts until they reach adulthood. The next time you visit your health care provider, ask to measure your BMI to determine your category of body weight. Know your numbers. How can you learn more about obesity and overweight? Well, We Can! can help. We Can! stands for Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity and Nutrition and teaches parents and caregivers to help their children ages 8-13 years to maintain a healthy weight. The goal of the program is to increase knowledge about choosing and preparing healthy, nutritious foods,
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increasing physical activity, and reducing screen or TV time. The curriculum was developed by leading experts at the National Institutes of Health who conducted research in nutrition, weight, and physical activity. Parents attend six one-hour interactive sessions covering topics about what to feed families to manage “Energy In”(calories from food); finding fun in physical activity or “Energy Out” (calories burned); portion sizes and control; decreasing screen time to become more fit; healthy cooking demonstrations; and how to sustain a healthy weight for life. Participants receive door prizes when they consistently attend all six classes, and it’s FREE! Children are welcome to attend classes with their parents. However, we do have a separate curriculum to address various age groups.
The Healthy Heart Community Prevention Project is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization which serves as a community site to implement the We Can! program. Let us know if you want us to bring this wonderful program to your community. Call Daphne P. Ferdinand, PhD, RN at (504) 534-8231 or email daphnep@ healthyheartcpp.org. Remember “Healthy Families Lead to Healthy Communities.” 27