Launch of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s National Campaign!

A new national survey reveals that patients and physicians may speak a different language when it comes to discussing asthma, especially when children are the patients. A parent often evaluates their child’s health based on qualitative factors, such as how their child acts and behaves and how the child’s daily life is affected. A physician often will focus during an office visit more on quantitative and clinical factors, such as number and type of symptoms related to the condition or disease. The result? A possible disconnect. Pediatric allergist and asthma expert Dr. Craig Jones along with a parent of a child who has asthma bring us a conversation road map to help you learn how to Get Ahead of Asthma and help bridge this potential doctor/patient communication gap.66% of primary care physicians and 63% of pediatricians polled in the survey feel they have different definitions from their patients on what it means to keep asthma under control 25% of adults with asthma and 25% of mothers with kids with asthma feel they have a different definition of what it means to keep asthma under control than their healthcare provider Learn what key information to track so you can come better prepared to your physicians office and help better assess your, or your child’s, disease. AAFA launches the Get Ahead of Asthma initiative to provide patients and parents of patients with downloadable information to help bridge the communication gap. Among the more common asthma triggers include: allergens, which is common if your child has ‘allergic asthma,’ and can include pollens, molds, cockroach droppings, and dust mites, etc. extreme changes in the weather, especially when it starts to get very cold irritants, including exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke, smoke from fires, strong odors, pollution in the air, and ozone alert days, etc. infections, especially colds and sinus infections exercise, especially if your child has exercise induced asthma gastroesophageal reflux, although these children don’t always have typical symptoms of heartburn and sometimes just have asthma that is hard to treat or a chronic cough A symptom diary may also help you find other specific asthma triggers for your child’s asthma, such as foods or stress. More about Dr. Craig Jones: Dr. Craig A. Jones is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, Director of the Division of Allergy/Immunology, and Director of the Allergy/Immunology Residency Training Program in the Department of Pediatrics at the Los Angeles County + University of Southern California (LAC+USC) Medical Center. He is also the Director, in charge of the design, implementation, and management, of the Breathmobile Mobile Asthma Clinic Program, a collaborative effort of the Southern California Chapter of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and the LAC Department of Health Services to employ disease management principles and bring preventive asthma care to high-risk inner city children. He has published papers and abstracts in Pediatrics, Chest, Pediatrics in Review, Journal of Clinical Immunology, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, and Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Dr. Jones is a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians and a member of the American Academy of Asthma, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology and the American College of Asthma, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology. He currently serves as President of the California Society of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology and is a past President of the Los Angeles Society of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Dr. Jones received his undergraduate degree at the University of California at San Diego and his medical degree at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas. He completed his internship and residency in pediatrics at LAC+USC Medical Center, where he also completed his fellowship in allergy and clinical immunology. http://www.getaheadofasthma.com www.getaheadofasthma.com