The Southeast Utah Health Department has an Asthma Program for individuals that may need assistance with medication. Program Coordinator, Catherine Miller took some time to speak with listeners about what asthma is and how the program can assist you.

“You are born with asthma, its not something that, some people do get it later depending on where they work, so sometimes it can be condition of living in the smog areas or things like that but mostly they’re born with it so they don’t know, they’ve never had anything different, and their lungs are swollen at all times and they don’t realize that,” said Miller. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs. People with asthma have the hardest time getting air out than getting it in.

There are several medications out there for those who suffer from asthma. “The first medication that you take would be a quick-relief inhaler and that gets the muscle to loosen up. So once that muscle is loosened up, now you’re back to where you were before but you don’t realize that your lungs are swollen because you just have always lived with that. Sometimes it gets to the point where the quick-relief inhaler doesn’t work very well and so they put you on a controller medication which will help the swelling to not be there,” explained Miller. Generally, the quick-relief inhaler is used when the individual is suffering from an asthma attack. An attack can be triggered by colds, allergies, cigarette smoke, pet dander and dust.

There are a few items that have to be meant in order to be considered for the asthma program. “There’s four things that make it so that you would be on the Medicaid list. One is if you have had an Urgent Care visit because of asthma within the last twelve months, the other one is if you have gone to the emergency room and/or if you have been hospitalized is also one, and the other one is if you renewed your medication, your quick-relief medication more than twice a year,” stated Miller. To find out if you are eligible for the program contact the Southeast Utah Health Department to set up an appointment with Miller.

Once an individual has been determined eligible for the program, they will have at least three at home visits. Because of COVID those will be done in office or other arrangements can be made. “The first visit I tell them about their asthma symptoms, what they are. I find out what medications they are on. I let them know what medications would help. If they aren’t on a controller medication a lot of times that will help. Then the second visit I talk to them about triggers in their house, I have them check the rooms,” said Miller. She also shares some great advice on how to prevent triggers inside the home such as laundering items so many times a month, and vacuuming at least twice a week.

To learn more about the Asthma Program contact the Southeast Utah Health Department at (435) 637-3671 or visit their website at https://www.seuhealth.com/