Iowa Asthma Control Program


Breathing easier in Iowa

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory airway disease of the lungs that causes breathing problems.  Asthma affects infants, children, adults, and the elderly.

Asthma's characteristic symptoms are coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and productive coughs (coughs that produce mucus).  Symptoms of  asthma in infancy and early childhood include wheezing, persistent coughing, and recurring or lingering chest colds.

Asthma can be triggered by a variety of things such as:  exercise and physical stimuli, variations in air temperatures and humidity, emotional activities (such as crying, laughing, or even yelling), animal dander, tobacco smoke, dust mites, cockroach allergens, mold, pollen, fumes from household items (such as cleaners, paints, perfumes, glues, and aerosols), air pollution, and smoke from wood-burning and leaf burning.

Asthma in the United States and in Iowa

  • In the U.S., people with asthma account for more than two million emergency room visits and over nine million doctor's appointments per year.
  • Asthma and related respiratory problems are responsible for more than 500,000 hospitalizations annually.
  • Costs associated with asthma exceed $11 billion each year.
  • More than 5,000 Americans - many between the ages of 5 and 34 - die each year because of asthma.
  • Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood.
  • At least five million children in the U.S. suffer from asthma.
  • In 1999, asthma affected 200,000 Iowans.
  • Of the 200,000 Iowans with asthma over 40,000 are under age 18.
  • In 1999, a total of 1,566 Iowa children, under age 18, were hospitalized because of asthma.
  • In 1994, costs associated with asthma in Iowa totaled $116 million.
  • Of the $116 million in costs, direct medical expenditures for asthma were $66 million.
  • Of the $116 million in costs, indirect costs for asthma were $50 million.

Sources:  Iowa Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; Healthy Iowans 2010; MMWR

Asthma Related Links

Data In Iowa:

Iowa Resources:

Other Resources:

Press Releases/Media

Iowa Asthma Coalition

Upcoming Events:

  • Iowa Asthma Coalition Newsletter article deadlines:
    • October 31st for the November issue
    • January 31st for the February issue
    • April 30th for the May issue
  • The state asthma coalition (Iowa Asthma Coalition) is evaluating the State Plan this year and needs your help. The evaluation process needs to capture asthma control in the whole state. We would appreciate your feedback in addressing the evaluation of the State Plan specific to your area. This is a chance to let your voice be heard. The State Plan is evaluated every 3 years. Please contact Christy Leibundguth at (515) 309-9507 ext. 224 to be on a committee(s). There will be one call per goal per month. See below for goals, dates, and times. There is a link to the State Plan on this website for your reference.

    Once you commit to a call, I will send out a meeting request and be in touch with you prior to each call with an agenda. Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks!

    Instruction to access the conference call:
    Dial access number 866-393-8073
    Enter meeting number *6350255* preceded and followed by the * key

    Goal #1 - Health Care Education
    Wednesday January 21st 1:00pm

    Goal #2 Patient Education
    Wednesday February 25th 11:00am

    Goal #3 Community Education
    Tuesday March 10th 11:00am

    Goal #4 Surveillance
    Wednesday April 22nd 11:00am

    Goal #5 - Advocacy
    Wednesday May 27th 11:00am

Iowa Asthma Coalition Newsletters

Meeting Agendas and Minutes:

Members:

Coalition Updates: