WHSIC Consumer Health

	Wegner Health Science Information Center Consumer Health Digital Library

Description - from the Center for Disease Control

Asthma is a disease that affects your lungs. It is the most common long-term disease of children. It causes repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. It is with you all the time, but you may have asthma attacks only when something bothers your lungs.

We know that family history contributes to susceptibility, but in most cases we don’t know what causes asthma to develop, and we don’t know how to cure asthma. You can control your asthma by knowing the warning signs of an attack, avoiding things that trigger an attack, and following the advice of your doctor. When you control your asthma, you won’t have symptoms like wheezing or coughing, you’ll sleep better, you won’t miss work or school, you’ll be able to take part in all physical activities, and you won’t have to visit the hospital.

Wegner Center Resources

Asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis - Video
Wegner Electronic WY 163 A853 2000

Asthma in children - Video
Wegner Electronic WF 553 A836 1996

Essential guide to asthma - Book
Wegner Books WF 553 E78 1998

Living well with asthma - Book
Wegner Books WF 553 F853 1998

I'm tougher than asthma! - Children's Book
Wegner Childrens WF 553 C384 1996

Homespun Medical Tips - Requires RealAudio

Asthma
with Dr. Matt Bien, Internist from Brookings, SD (July 2002)

Asthma
with Joan Hogan and Dr. Rick Holm, Internist from Brookings, SD (November 2001)

Lung Information for Farmers
with Dr. David Thomas, Pulmonologist from Sioux Falls, SD (November 2000)

Respiratory Illnesses
with Joan Hogan and Dr. Rick Holm, Internist from Brookings, SD (July 2003)

Respiratory Problems in the Winter for Farmers
with Dr. Rodney Parry, Pulmonologist from Sioux Falls, SD (November 2001)

Web Resources

American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology - Patients and Consumers Center
http://www.aaaai.org/patients.stm
Provides an extensive library of information to help you learn more about asthma and allergic disease. Site includes a topic of the month, a section just for kids, and a section devoted to asthma and allergy resources.

Asthma Information Page from the American Lung Association
http://www.lungusa.org/asthma/index.htm
This web site will provide you with in-depth information including asthma and older people, teens and asthma, asthma medicines and attacks, peak flow meters, and home control of allergies and asthma.

National Asthma Education and Prevention Program
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/naepp/index.htm
The ultimate goal of the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program is to enhance the quality of life for patients with asthma and decrease asthma-related morbidity and mortality.

Current Literature

Asthma from MEDLINEplus
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/asthma.html
MEDLINEplus provides extensive information from the a variety of trusted sources, in English and in Spanish.

Medem Medical Library - Asthma and Other Allergic Diseases
http://www.medem.com/medlb/medlib_entry.cfm
Medem's award-winning Medical Library represents the full rant of patient education information from medical societies and other trusted sources, and is unsurpassed in quality, breadth and depth of health care information.

Wegner Health Science Information Center

Consumer Health Digital Library