Researchers Seeking Better Odds for Asthma Sufferers

Close to 30 million adults and children in the United States have asthma. According to published reports, the condition is the third leading cause of hospitalization for children and costs the U.S. healthcare system approximately $11.3 billion per year. Numbers like these illustrate the need to help people with asthma improve the way they manage their illness. Researchers at the University of Virginia Health System Department of Family Medicine and community partners from Southern Health Services Inc., and ACAC Fitness and Wellness Center, are convinced that exercise is part of the answer.

“Now more than ever, we’re seeing that exercise programs are a vital part of improving various health conditions. Asthma is no exception,” said Dr. Susan Pollart, vice chair of the family medicine department at UVa Health System and lead investigator for a new exercise study. “Where people with asthma may believe that their condition keeps them from physical activity, we can show them how it will help.” The exercise program, “Achieving Control through Aerobic Conditioning,” is designed to help people living with asthma improve their symptoms by changing their lifestyles. For four months participants will work one-on-one with ACAC fitness experts to develop exercise plans. With the support of medical experts, participants will watch for improvements in how they manage their asthma. “Our program is designed to help people with asthma maximize their quality of life and even the way their lungs work. Previous studies in this area have shown that exercise is safe and beneficial for asthmatics, and we have used this experience to design a program in a state of the art fitness facility that we believe will help increase the aerobic activity of persons with asthma,” said Dr. Kurt Elward, family medicine physician at the UVa Health System and Medical Director for Quality Improvement at Southern Health Services. “Then over time, we will see how participants have improved in both daily activities and actual lung function.” “I feel really good about this initiative,” said Phil Wendel, president and owner of ACAC. “Every day our fingers are crossed that we will see good outcomes.” Confidence in this program also comes from the belief that there is power in numbers. With three organizations joining forces, collaborators feel they can improve the odds for those in the community living with asthma. “This unique collaboration, combining the strengths of a nationally prominent academic center, a locally focused managed care organization and a top quality fitness club is a reflection of the commitment on all of our parts to improve the treatment of this all too common disease,” added Dr. Stephen Cavalieri, senior medical director of Southern Health. “It’s definitely a feel good story.” (Source: University of Virginia Health System: May 2006.)