01:28 PM EDT on Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Frank the moderator: Welcome. The Web site of The Providence Journal – projo.com - will host a series of 6 Internet “chats” beginning Tuesday, Oct. 11, on topics of interest to Rhode Island’s burgeoning Hispanic population.
Today at noon our first guest will be Dr. Arelis Valerio, community education coordinator at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, she will answer reader questions on asthma.
Go here for more information: http://www.projo.com/hispanicchatsinfo

Dr. Arelis Valerio "Like an elephant sitting on my chest." This is how many kids with asthma describe what it feels like when they are having an asthma attack. They can't breathe. They panic and their parents do too. At Hasbro Children's Hospital, one out of every three admissions is for asthma or a related respiratory condition. Nationally, over 6 million children have asthma. These children miss over 10 million days of school each year. In our state, one out of every ten children has been diagnosed with asthma.
However, the good news about asthma is that it is can be controlled. Asthma is a disease that affects the airways in the lungs. In people with asthma, those airways can swell and close and it makes it hard to breathe - that is known as an "asthma attack." In the last thirty years, we have learned a lot about how asthma can be controlled. There are medications that are very good at treating the airways when they become swollen during an attack. Physicians understand how asthma works and can work with patients to make sure they get the treatment that works for them. But, asthma is something that must be taken care of every day. This is the hardest part about controlling asthma. People who have asthma really have the power to control their disease -- by taking medication daily, by avoiding those things in the air that can cause an attack and by learning to recognize the signs of an attack quickly and taking fast action. Then children and adults with asthma can live normal lives. Asthma can be controlled!

Vane: Me ha dado asma ya de adulto. Eso quiere decir que le puedo pasar la condicion a mis hijos (cuando los tenga)?
Dr. Arelis Valerio: Gracia por su email. Puede ser que si, que se la transmita porque el asma tiene un factor hereditario. Aunque no todos los ninos de padres asmaticos desarollan asma .

Frank the moderator: Dr. Valerio -- what are some of the first signs parents can look for that their child may have astma problems.
Dr. Arelis Valerio: Hello Frank, The symptoms are coughing, weezing, short of breath etc., especially at night time - that make one wake up and early in the morning.

Frank the moderator: What local resources are there for families and children suffering from asthma.
Dr. Arelis Valerio: There are programs that help the parents and children control their asthma, like Community Asthma Programs of Hasbro Children's Hospital. They offer education on Tuesday and Thursday in the Hasbro Children's Hospital and in the schools. For more information you can call 444-8340 (English and Spanish).

marta_p: Doctora, es poible controlar su asthma sin recurrir a medicamentos?
Dr. Arelis Valerio: Hola Marta, EL asma no se puede curar sin medicinas, ya es una enfermedad inflamatoria de las vias aerias de los pulmones. Es una enfermedad cronica la cual no se cura, pero se controla de dos formas: Tomando su medicina de control todos los dias y alejandonos de lo que nos produce un ataque de asma. Cuando los pacientes tiene sintomas frecuentes deben de usar medicinas que le ayude a controlar su asma. Lo importante es hablar con su doctor para saber si usted necesita usar o no medicina . Dra. Valerio

Frank the moderator: Are asthmatic problems related to allergies that people suffer from? Personally, I've found that dust and mold in the air can cause breathing problems for me. Is this similar to asthma?
Dr. Arelis Valerio: Allergies are different from asthma. The allergy symptoms are: Red eyes, itchy nose , sneezing, and scrachy throat, etc. Asthma is an inflamatory disease of the lung. The dust and mold are triggers to asthma and allergies, its important that you contact an allergic specialist. Dr.Valerio.

tom: Is asthma a life-long condition? Can it be "cured"?
Dr. Arelis Valerio: Asthma is a disease that cannot be cured, but it can be controlled. Dr.Valerio

tom: What advice to you give to asthmatic teenagers who hope to participate in sports?
Dr. Arelis Valerio: If he/she has her asthma in control they can participate in any sports. For more information you can contact Community Asthma Program at 444-8340. Dr. Valerio

tom: Why did you decide to develop an expertise on asthma?
Dr. Arelis Valerio: I come from an asthmatic family. Dr.Valerio

marta_p: Doctora, parece que este chat no funcciona muy bien. Es posible controlar el asthma sin recurrir a medicinas?
Dr. Arelis Valerio: El asma no se pude curar sin recurrir a medicinas. Se deben de usar medicinas para el control del asma, ya que es una enfermedad inflamatoria y cronica de las vias aereas pulmonares, la cual se controla pero no se cura. Dra. valerio

Mrs.Vargas: Is astma hereditary? My husband had a horrible astma growuing up, he no longer has problems with astma unless he goes for a jog, my daughter peditrican mention she might have a slight chance my asthma if my husband had it while being a child.
Dr. Arelis Valerio : Hello Mrs. Vargas, Asthma has heretery factor, may be your daughter can develop asthma. I think is important you follow your daughthers symptoms, like cough; weezing, shortness of breath, etc., if they occur in the night time, and making her wake up or early in the morning. You see these symtoms you need to speak with your child's doctor . Dr. Valerio

andrea: What can happen if asthma goes unrecognized -- and untreated?
Dr. Arelis Valerio: Hello Andrea, When the person can not recognize they have asthma & don't have treatment , they can die from an asthma attack. Is very important when you have breathing promblem to communicate this to your doctor . Dr. Valerio

andrea: Is asthma more of a problem for Hispanic children than others? If so, why?
Dr. Arelis Valerio: Hello Andrea, Asthma is higher in the African American population, but also affects other races. Dr. Valerio

betty: What should you do if you think you have asthma but are not sure? Are there tests?
Dr. Arelis Valerio: You can ask your doctor about the lung function test, and explain what breathing symptoms you're feeling. Dr. Valerio

Frank the moderator: Thank you, Dr. Valerio, for joining us today to talk about asthma.
Dr. Arelis Valerio: Thank you Frank. Dr. Valerio