BREATHING SPACE
Respiratory Disease Newsletter
Minnesota Department of Health
Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Division
Chronic Disease & Environmental Epidemiology Section
Volume 8, Number 4
December 2010
Be Prepared for Winter!
Winter in Minnesota can be a challenge no matter who you are. For people with asthma, the winter weather and
cold dry air that accompany it can increase the risk of having an asthma attack. However, when asthma is well
controlled and people are prepared to deal with the unique winter environmental triggers ahead of time, people
with asthma can safely enjoy winter fun.
Some triggers of asthma, such as cold dry air and greater exposure to viruses, can bring on asthma attacks for people with
asthma. In addition, fine particulates from wood burning in fireplaces and stoves can irritate airways and make winter a difficult season for people with asthma.
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What’s Inside?
•
Air Quality Notifications
•
Asthma Data from the 2010
Minnesota Student Survey
•
Wood Smoke Problems &
Complaints
•
ECHO Introduces Cultural
Toolkit
•
Advancing Tobacco Control
through Applied Research" December 2010
•
Freedom the Breathe Act is an
Overwhelming Success
•
2009 H1N1 Vaccine Safe and
Induces Robust Immune
Response in People With
Asthma
•
EPA’s Aging Initiative:
Age Healthier Breathe Easier
•
NIOSH Approved Spirometry
Training
•
Pediatricians Don’t Use, Can’t
Interpret Spirometry
•
Asthma-friendly Products: Do
they help reduce symptoms?
•
New Surgeon General Report
on Tobacco
•
News from the American Lung
Association in Minnesota
•
South Central MAC
Anyone 6 Months of Age and Older Should
get Vaccinated for Flu
A little more than a third of children in Minnesota's most populous area have been vaccinated against influenza so far this year, according to a national survey conducted in
mid-November. While that's a start, state health officials say, more people need to be
vaccinated before the peak of the season hits.
"While we're off to a good start with vaccination, we know that we can do much better," said Kristen Ehresmann, head of the infectious disease division for the Minnesota
Department of Health. "We still have more than 64 percent of children who are unvaccinated and thus unprotected from influenza," she said.
Influenza can be a serious, life threatening illness. Older seniors and very young children are among those most susceptible to complications from influenza.
Health officials now recommend that everyone over the age of 6 months be vaccinated
for influenza (unless they cannot receive one for medical reasons). Still of special concern are those at high risk for serious complications from influenza. These include
pregnant women, seniors, young children and those with asthma, diabetes or other
chronic conditions.
Children under six months of age cannot receive flu vaccine, so household contacts
should be vaccinated to protect the very young. In addition, flu shots are strongly recommended for health care workers to help protect those most susceptible to influenza.
"My message to parents – and all Minnesotans – is, don't wait to see how severe the
flu season is going to be before you vaccinate. Just get vaccinated soon."
Flu activity in some southeastern states is increasing rapidly and may soon be widespread. While it's still sporadic in Minnesota, it's only a matter of time before it becomes widespread here as well, health officials noted.
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Minnesota’s winter hazard awareness week website at:
http://www.winterweather.state.mn.us/.
Be Prepared for Winter
If your asthma is aggravated by winter weather and activities
that go with it, it’s important to take a few simple preventive
steps to keep yourself and your family healthy this winter.
Asthma-related content can be found at: the American Academy of Allergy and Asthma & Immunology http://
www.aaaai.org/patients/allergy_asthma_issues/2009/winter/
asthma_and_winter_sports.asp and
Nation Jewish Health http://www.nationaljewish.org/about/
mediacenter/pressreleases/2009/cold-asthma-attacks.aspx
•
•
•
•
•
•
Get your seasonal flu shot; winter is peak respiratory flu
season and people with asthma are more prone to respiratory infections.
Follow your asthma action plan (AAP); be sure to use the
medication listed on your AAP to keep asthma symptoms
in check and your asthma well controlled.
Talk to your health care provider about how to “pre-treat”
for cold-induced symptom flare-ups; take your rescue
medication (e.g. Albuterol) 15-30 minutes before outdoor
activity.
Use a scarf or mask over your mouth and nose to help
warm the air you breathe when doing outdoor activities;
breathing in cold air can lead to an asthma attack.
Use cleaner methods of indoor heating such as electricity
and avoid use of wood fires that can emit fine particulates
into indoor spaces;
Keep your home clean and free from allergens; such as
dust mites, mold, pet dander, tobacco smoke and other
inhaled irritants.
Air Quality Notifications
You can receive air quality notifications
from EnviroFlash on your cell phone or by
email. EnviroFlash provides "heads-up"
information so that people can adjust
their daily activities to match expected air
quality conditions. This tool helps people
with asthma (or parents of children with
asthma) know when the air quality is unhealthy. An on-line
subscription page allows users to sign up at
www.enviroflash.info. Once the subscriber chooses the
type, location(s), and frequency of service desired, EnviroFlash will be sent to his or her e-mail or cell phone as
specified. For more information and to subscribe link, go to:
www.enviroflash.info.
Additional tips to help you stay safe this winter, both indoors
and out, can be found on the “Winter Hazard Awareness
Week” website. This website provides information on winter
weather, outdoor winter safety, fire safety, indoor air issues,
and winter car safety. It is sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
Make your winter warm, safe, and enjoyable, and check out
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Anyone 6 Months of Age and Older Should get Vaccinated for Flu
Flu season in Minnesota typically runs from October through April, and usually peaks in January or February.
Fortunately, there are abundant opportunities to get vaccinated this season, she noted. The supply of vaccine is plentiful and
there are more providers than ever before offering vaccine.
The cost of immunization or lack of health insurance should not be a barrier, Ehresmann noted. Free and low-cost
vaccinations are available through many local public health agencies.
To find a flu vaccination clinic near you, or for more information on influenza, visit www.mdhflu.com. Flu Shots
may also be given at other locations and times not listed on the MDH website. Check with your physician’s office,
a walk-in clinic or your pharmacy about getting vaccinated against the flu.wear short sleeves, perhaps under a
sweater if it’s cold, to make getting the shot easier.
Flu shots also may be given at other locations and times not listed on the MDH Web site. Check with your physician’s office or regular walk-in clinic about getting vaccinated against the flu.
2
Minnesota Youth and Asthma
Data from the 2010 Minnesota
Student Survey
Percentage of Minnesota Youth
Reporting an Asthma Diagnosis, 2010
The Minnesota Student Survey is a survey of students across Minnesota and is conducted every 3 years. Students in grades 6, 9 and 12
in public schools, including charter and tribal schools, and in all
grades of alternative schools and juvenile correctional facilities are
included. The survey is a joint effort of the Minnesota Departments
of Education, Health, Human Services, and Public Safety.
Since 2007, the survey has included the following question on
asthma: “Has a doctor or nurse ever told you that you have asthma?”
which is a measure of lifetime asthma prevalence. In 2010, 15% of
6th graders, 18% of 9th graders and 18% of 12th graders reported that
they had ever received a diagnosis of asthma.
Because this measure is associated with receiving a diagnosis from a
health care provider, it does not capture undiagnosed asthma. Patterns in asthma prevalence may be related to factors making a diagnosis more likely such as awareness of asthma, diagnostic patterns
and access to care. Also, this measure relies on the accurate reporting of having received a diagnosis.
Grade 6
The graph below shows the overall percentages of lifetime asthma
prevalence by grade and sex. The accompanying aps show the percentages by county for each grade. For more data on asthma from
the Minnesota Student Survey, check out the statewide and county
tables at: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/chs/mss/ . The asthma
results can be found on page 18 of each of the statewide and county
tables.
Grade 9
Source: Minnesota Student Survey, 2010
*Responded “Yes” to: “Has a doctor or nurse
ever told you that you have asthma?”
Grade 12
Source: Minnesota Student Survey, 2010
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Wood Smoke—Problems & Complaints
What to do if you have a complaint about a neighbor’s stove or fireplace?
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has limited ability to respond to individual wood smoke complaints. They encourage you to give your neighbor a chance to be a ‘good’ neighbor by calmly telling your neighbor about the problem. Your
neighbor may not be aware the they are affecting your property or your health. You may also contact your local officials if
talking to your neighbors doesn’t yield a satisfactory result. For more information link to: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/
index.php/air/air-quality-and-pollutants/general-air-quality/wood-smoke/wood-smoke-problems-and-complaints.html?
menuid=&redirect=1
Their complaint line is found at: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/about-mpca/assistance/citizen-complaints.html?
menuid=378&redirect=1
EPA’s Aging Initiative:
Age Healthier, Breathe Easier
ECHO Introduces Cultural
Toolkit
Exposure to indoor and outdoor environmental hazards can worsen the
health of persons living with lung disease. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Aging Initiative has developed a brief one-page fact
sheet called “Age Healthier, Breathe Easier” that outlines simple steps
that older adults with living with asthma and COPD can take to reduce
and control the frequency of their symptoms. This fact sheet and
other’s provide information on environmental health hazards for older
adults and their caregivers as well as public health and aging professionals. Recognizing that those who may be at the greatest risk may
also have limited proficiency in English, they have translated the fact
sheets into seventeen languages including Spanish and Vietnamese. In
addition, they prepared a "purple series" written for persons with limited reading ability. They also placed on their website a large font series of these fact sheets to make it easier to read for those of us with
aging eyes. Multiple copies of the fact sheets can be ordered or they
can be downloaded at http://www.epa.gov/aging/resources/factsheets/
index.htm#fs.
In an effort to bridge the communications and
cultural gap between Minnesota’s immigrants and
non-English speaking populations, and the health
and safety personnel who serve them, ECHO has
created a toolkit to better prepare emergency
managers, fire fighters, police officers, public
health agencies, and others in their work with
multicultural communities. The information presented in the toolkit provides a working knowledge and a basic foundation on specific cultures
that have made Minnesota their home. Resources
are not intended to be an exhaustive representation of a given culture, but aim to provide a
strong groundwork for cultural understanding.
http://www.echominnesota.org/tools/culturaltoolkit
Asthma and Respiratory Disease is the topic of a
one of their TV shows. It is available in Khmer,
Somali, Vietnamese, Lao, Spanish, and Hmong. It
can be accessed on the web at http://
www.echominnesota.org/library/asthma-andrespiratory-diseases.
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American Journal of Preventive Medicine Supplement:
"ClearWay MinnesotaSM: Advancing Tobacco Control through Applied Research"
December 2010
A December 2010 supplement to the peer-reviewed journal the American Journal of Preventive Medicine featured 11 articles
from ClearWay Minnesota-funded research grantees, as well as closing commentaries by U.S. Senator Al Franken and Dr.
Bradford Hesse, Chief of the National Cancer Institute's Health Communications and Informatics Research Branch. These new
findings focus on clean indoor air policies, increasing access to treatment, and health disparities. The importance of indoor air
policies is reflected in a series of papers examining the impact of local and statewide smoke free policies on air quality, employment, revenue, and young adult perceptions. The findings in this supplement represent an additional opportunity to improve programs, policy, and practice, and thereby reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand
smoke. The supplement is available at ClearWay Minnesota’s website at: clearwaymn.org/research.
Recent News
The Evidence is Clear: Freedom to Breathe Act is an Overwhelming Success
In 2007, Minnesota made history by passing the Freedom to Breathe Act and protecting all workers from secondhand smoke.
This landmark health legislation has been a success. All bar and restaurant employees deserve to breathe smoke-free air.
key indicator of economic impact.
Protects Health
•
•
Healthier Hospitality Workers-Just one month after
the law went into effect, exposure to a cancer-causing
carcinogen in nonsmoking hospitality workers had fallen
by 85 percent, and nicotine exposure by 83 percent.1
Current Freedom to Breathe Act=Success
•
Cleaner Air in Bars and Restaurants-Air pollution
•
from secondhand smoke particles in bars and restaurants
decreased by more than 95 percent after the law.2
•
Strong Public Support
Provides a level playing field for Minnesota businesses under a uniform statewide law.
Offers easy to understand guidelines for businesses,
residents and visitors.
Ensures smoke-free air for all workers and customers
through a health policy embraced around the U.S.
•
Minnesotans Embrace Smoke-Free Law-The Minne1
University of Minnesota Cancer Center and ClearWay Minnesota Department of Health received only 326 reports of
SM
sota
. http://www.cancer.umn.edu/news/releases/2008/
violations (out of more than 116,000 businesses covered)
3
FBAstudy.html.
in the law’s first three years.
•
Minnesotans Support Smoke-Free Air-77 percent of
Minnesotans support the law, with 41 percent strongly
supporting it. Overwhelmingly, Minnesotans believe
smoke-free restaurants and bars are healthier for customers and employees.4
•
A National Trend-29 states, including Iowa, Wisconsin
and South Dakota, have smoke-free laws for restaurants
and bars.5
Bohac DL, Hewett MJ, Kapphahn KT, et al. American Journal of Preventive Medicine (AJPM), Supplement, Dec. 2010.
3
Minnesota Department of Health. http://
minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/07/28/smokingban/.
4
ClearWay Minnesota poll, September, 2008, available at
www.clearwaymn.org.
5
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. http://
No Statistically significant employment changes in www.tobaccofreekids.org/reports/shs/.
bars and restaurants were found statewide or region- 6
Klein EG, Forester JL, Collins N, et al. AJPM, Supplement,
ally after the law, according to research using independDec.
2010.
ent data from the Minnesota Department of Employment
6
and Economic Development. Employment data are a
Economy-Friendly
•
2
5
2009 H1N1 VACCINE SAFE AND INDUCES ROBUST The study enrolled 390 people aged 12 to 79 years with
IMMUNE RESPONSE IN PEOPLE WITH ASTHMA asthma. Participants were divided into two groups based on
the severity of their asthma. The first group exhibited mild or
moderate asthma, and the second group exhibited severe
Results of NIH-supported study now available
asthma. For the purposes of the study, people with mild or
moderate asthma were characterized as needing no or low to
Results from a government-sponsored clinical trial of inactivated 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine in people with asthma indi- moderate doses of inhaled corticosteriods to control their disease symptoms. Those with severe asthma needed high doses
cate that a single dose of vaccine was safe and induced a
strong immune response predictive of protection. The findings of inhaled corticosteriods and frequently required oral corticosalso suggest that individuals over the age of 60 who have se- teriods to control their symptoms.
vere asthma may require a larger dose of vaccine.
Half of the participants in each group received a 15-microgram
The study was cosponsored by the National Institute of Allergy dose of vaccine, and the other half received a 30-microgram
and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the National Heart, Lung, dose, both by injection. Three weeks later, each participant
and Blood Institute (NHLBI), two components of the National received a second dose in the same amount as the first dose.
The vaccine, manufactured by Novartis by methods used to
Institutes of Health, and appears online in the Journal of Alprepare
each year's seasonal vaccine, contained inactivated
lergy and Clinical Immunology.
2009 H1N1 influenza virus and therefore could not cause influenza infection.
"Asthma was the most common underlying health condition
among those hospitalized in the United States with 2009 H1N1
The investigators measured the level of antibodies against the
influenza infection during the 2009-2010 influenza season,"
2009
H1N1 influenza virus in participants' blood samples,
says NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. "The results of this
which
were taken three weeks after each injection, to assess
clinical trial show that the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine was
the
strength
of the immune response.
safe and led to adequate production of antibodies thought to
be protective against the virus. This is important because the
H1N1 vaccine is one component of the seasonal influenza vac- The vaccine proved safe and effectively produced an immune
response indicative of protection. In participants with mild to
cine currently being distributed for the 2010-2011 influenza
moderate asthma, and in most participants with severe
season."
asthma, a single 15-microgram dose was sufficient to induce a
presumably protective immune response. The immune rePeople with asthma are at risk for developing severe disease
sponse after the first dose was not further improved after a
when infected with the influenza virus. In addition, there is
second dose, indicating that a single dose was adequate. Parconcern that the long term use of corticosteroids, which are
used to control asthma symptoms and known to suppress the ticipants older than age 60 with severe asthma had diminished
immune responses to the 15-microgram dose of vaccine, but
immune system, by people with severe asthma might affect
the 30-microgram dose gave an adequate response.
their ability to mount a healthy immune response to the vaccine.
"We were not surprised that the older participants had less
"This study shows patients and their doctors that it is safe and robust responses to the vaccine compared with the younger
effective to get the flu vaccination while they continue to take participants because immune system activity tends to dethe corticosteroid medications necessary to keep their asthma crease with age," says William Busse, M.D., a principal investigator of NHLBI's SARP and professor of medicine at the Uniunder control," says NHLBI Acting Director Susan B. Shurin,
versity of Wisconsin in Madison. "Based on these observations,
M.D.
physicians may wish to consider immunizing older patients
who have severe asthma with the high-dose version of the
In late 2009, NIH rapidly designed and sponsored a clinical
study to determine the dose and number of doses of the 2009 2010-2011 seasonal influenza vaccine, which contains the
H1N1 influenza vaccine needed to safely produce a protective 2009 H1N1 influenza virus component."
immune response in people with asthma. NIH worked with the
Safety data were collected and examined throughout the
Department of Health and Human Services Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority to acquire H1N1 course of the study by investigators and by an independent
safety monitoring committee. Participants were followed for
vaccine for the study from a U.S.-licensed influenza vaccine
any side effects they may have experienced from the vaccine,
manufacturer. The trial was conducted at NHLBI Severe
as well as for asthma attacks that occurred during the study.
Asthma Research Program (SARP) sites located at university
The vaccine did not exacerbate participants' asthma. In addihospitals and centers throughout the United States.
tion, the vaccine was well-tolerated, and its safety profile was
found to be the same as that obtained in other studies in
The design of the trial was similar to that of other NIAIDwhich the vaccine was given to the general public.
sponsored clinical trials of 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines in
healthy adults. In these trials, a single dose of the vaccine
CONTACT:
containing 15 micrograms of the influenza hemagglutinin
NIAID Office of Communications, 301-402-1663, <emolecule -- the main target of the protective antibody response -- was found to be well tolerated and induced a strong mail:[email protected]> NHLBI Office of Communications, 301-496-4236, e-mail:[email protected].
immune response in most participants.
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Pediatricians Don’t Use,
Can’t Interpret Spirometry
Underuse could mean pediatricians are undertreating asthma patients
NIOSH Approved Spirometry Training
April 22-12, 2011
This NIOSH approved program will provide instruction in
spirometry through lectures, workshops, and testing. This
workshop includes American Thoracic Society (ATS) standards for pulmonary function testing and the current
NIOSH standards. Each participant will have ample opportunity to practice pulmonary function testing utilizing a variety of spirometry equipment with one-on-one instruction
from the faculty. Individuals who will find this program
valuable include: nurses, physicians, industrial hygienists,
technicians and Medical Assistants, and others responsible
for performing accurate pulmonary function testing.
University of Michigan research team led by Kevin J.
Dombkowski, DrPH, MS, research associate professor
found that only 21% of surveyed physicians reported
regular use of spirometry - the recommended method for
assessing lung function. Additionally, only 50% of the primary care physicians were able to correctly interpret spirometry results. These findings were published in the September issue of Pediatrics. http://www2.med.umich.edu/
prmc/media/newsroom/details.cfm?ID=1714
For more information link to: http://www.sph.umn.edu/ce/
trainings/coursepage.asp?activityId=9120
Nurses - This activity has been designed to meet the Minnesota Board of Nursing continuing education requirements
for 19.2 (50 Minute) contact hours.
The registration fee of $450.00 includes refreshments,
lunch, course materials and CEU certificate for continuing
education hours. Register online.
Asthma Friendly Products:
Do they help reduce symptoms?
In a recent article, Mayo Clinic staff suggest that you
“Evaluate the claims before you spend your money”. In an
article published on their website, they state that while a
number of manufacturers claim that their asthma-friendly
products reduce asthma triggers better than other products,
often these claims are not backed up with solid evidence.
While there are no sure ways to tell how much a particular
product might help ease your asthma symptoms, the article
includes some tips to keep in mind before spending your
money. A complete copy of the article can be found at:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/asthma-friendly/
AS00033.
New Surgeon General Report
on Tobacco
Exposure to tobacco smoke – even occasional smoking or
secondhand smoke – causes immediate damage to your
body that can lead to serious illness or death, according to
a report released December 9, 2010 by U.S. Surgeon
General Regina M. Benjamin. The comprehensive scientific
report describes specific pathways by which tobacco
smoke damages the human body and leads to disease and
death. Citing the 2004 and 2006 reports of the Surgeon
General, it states “There is sufficient evidence to infer a
causal conclusion between secondhand smoke exposure
from parental smoking and ever having asthma among
young children of school age”. It also states that the
“evidence is sufficient to infer a causal conclusion between
smoking and asthma-related symptoms (i.e. wheezing) in
childhood and adolescence, and also between smoking
and poor asthma control.
The full report, How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease: The
Biology and Behavioral Basis for Smoking-Attributable Disease can be accessed at http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/
library/tobaccosmoke/index.html. You can also find on
this website an executive summary of the report, an easyto read, 20-page consumer summary, a piece for clinicians
highlighting what they should tell their patients about
smoking, and other useful resources.
7
News from the American Lung Association
in Minnesota
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Update
November 17 World COPD Day
On Wednesday, November 17, the American Lung Association in Minnesota (ALAMN) hosted the 4th statewide COPD summit. It was a great opportunity to highlight the cutting edge clinical work happening in Minnesota. The keynote presentation
was provided by Sanford Health about their COPD Center of Excellence in Fargo, North Dakota. The outcome of the day was
the 2011-2013 Minnesota Strategic COPD Action Plan. This statewide plan will be distributed in January 2011.
COPD Phone Bank
Thursday, November 18, 2010, was a good day for getting the word out about COPD. KARE11, the Minneapolis NBC affiliate,
shared information about COPD on their 4, 5, and 6 pm newscasts and routed callers to a COPD phone bank staffed by American Lung Association in Minnesota volunteers. In addition, they interviewed Marty and MaryLou Lannon, ALAMN Better
Breather Club support group members, and Dr Joseph Graif, pulmonary physician, about what it is like to live with
COPD. Their story is posted at http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=882712 and includes a link directly to
the ALAMN webpage which has a link to the DRIVE4COPD questionnaire as well as information about support groups and pulmonary rehabilitation programs in Minnesota. Approximately 140 calls were answered by our volunteers who also directed callers to the ALAMN website and shared information about the Lung HelpLine for subsequent questions.
COPD activities in Duluth
In Duluth, Jan Salo Korby, respiratory therapist at Essentia Health, visited Good Morning Northland early Thursday morning
November 18, 2010, to talk about COPD. The ALAMN is pleased to work with Essentia Health. Essentia provided a free COPD
community education session on November 22. Those who came to Monday night's session could receive a spirometry test if
they met certain criteria for COPD. Check out the interview at http://www.wdio.com/article/stories/S1845177.shtml?
cat=10349.
Thanks to Jan Salo Korby and Sue Strohman for their work to set up this interview and host the education session on Monday!
South Central Minnesota
Asthma Coalition
The South Central MAC continues to conduct Asthma 101 trainings throughout the region with more than 100 trained this
quarter. In addition to Asthma 101 we have had the opportunity to partner with MERCK to produce the Breathe Easy
Asthma Interactive Teaching Tool. This tool provides moderators with a table top education map and talking points on improving asthma outcomes through education and modifications
in the worksite, outdoors, home and health care environments. Training is available for those who wish to use the
toolkit. During October the SCMAC partnered with AAFA to
provide Asthma trainings to 30 health care providers in Mankato and Duluth. For more information please contact Erin
Simmons at [email protected].
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Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Division
Chronic Disease and Environmental Epidemiology
85 East 7th Place
PO Box 64882
St. Paul, MN 55164-0882
BREATHING SPACE
For more information, or to request this material in another format call the Minnesota Asthma
Program at:
BREATHING SPACE, a quarterly respiratory disease newsletter, is produced
by the Minnesota Department of Health Asthma Program. The purpose of
this newsletter is to provide health professionals, school nurses, and community members with current research, information, and resources on respiratory disease.
651-201-5909
MN Relay Service TDD/TTY
651-201-5797.
To receive this newsletter electronically, go to:
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/
hpcd/cdee/asthma/Newsletter.html.
Link to -Subscribe to
Breathing Space.
Editor
Janet Keysser, MA, MPH
Production
Janis Smith, OAS, Sr.
Commissioner of Health
This newsletter is supported by Grant/Cooperative Agreement
#1U59EH000498-01 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not
necessarily represent the official views of the CDC.
Questions about lung health?
Call 1-800-548-8252
American Lung Association Call Center
MDH Asthma Staff Contact Information:
Asthma Program Telephone Number: 651-201-5909
Toll Free Number: 1-877-925-4189
Asthma Web Site: http://www.health.state.mn.us/asthma/
Wendy Brunner, 651-201-5895, email: [email protected]
Erica Fishman, 651-201-5899, email: [email protected]
Janet Keysser, 651-201-5691, email: [email protected]
Kathleen Norlien, 651-201-4613, email: [email protected]
Susan Ross, 651-201-5629, email: [email protected]
Janis Smith, 651-201-5909, email: [email protected]
Sanne Magnan, MD, PhD
9