Boston Herald: Mass. asthma rates rising despite nationwide decline

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Mass. asthma rates rising despite nationwide decline

By Fargen

Monday, March 27, 2006

While asthma rates have leveled off nationwide, New England and

Massachusetts continue to see a spike in cases of the lung disease, a

disturbing trend

that has puzzled researchers, according to a report to be released today.

The number of children and adults diagnosed with asthma in New England has

increased by 400,000 since 2001, according to a study released today by the

Asthma Regional Council, which looked at asthma rates around the country

between 2001 and 2004.

“We really need to declare a war on asthma,†said Laurie Stillman,

executive director of the Council.

Fourteen percent of New England children have asthma, compared to 12.4

percent nationwide. Fifteen percent of adults in New England have the chronic

lung disease, compared to 13 percent nationwide.

Stillman said the biggest worry is that the rates are increasing in New

England and no one knows why.

“That’s the very frustrating thing about asthma,†Stillman said.

Among the findings:

Children in the lowest income bracket have twice the rates of asthma as

those whose families make more money.

Children who live with a smoker have a 44 percent greater chance of

developing asthma, showing that asthma is not only worsened, but actually

caused by

cigarette smoke.

Asthma causes depression, missed work and school days and limits physical

activity.

The report lists 10 recommendations including a push for research, better

access to asthma medication and awareness about the effects of smoking, one of

the most easily prevented triggers.

“If they can’t quit, we say take it outside,†Stillman said. “Don’t

smoke

in the home. Don’t smoke in the car with another person there. It can get

them ill.â€

jfargen@....