Children, adults with breathing problems can attend free asthma screening

May 9, 2006 -- If you've regularly been coughing, wheezing or short of breath, you may want to get tested for asthma at the Saint Louis Science Center on Saturday, May 20. As part of a nationwide program, Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital physicians will be at the Science Center to test lung function and answer questions about asthma. The screenings are free.

"St. Louis is the fifth-worst city in the country for allergies and asthma," says H. James Wedner, M.D., head of the Division of Allergy and Immunology, medical director of the Asthma and Allergy Center and professor of medicine. "In fact, the number of children with asthma in the St. Louis area is about three times the national average. Screening programs like this one can help a lot of people who aren't aware they have asthma and are risking permanent lung damage."

In a recent survey of allergists who have coordinated similar asthma screening programs, most thought that without the program, the majority of participants wouldn't have sought treatment for their breathing problem.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the national screening program, which is sponsored by the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). The program has screened more than 90,000 people and referred more than half for a professional diagnosis.

"Thanks to the generous efforts of ACAAI members and countless other volunteers, we've reached thousands of people who were suffering from asthma and didn't even know it," says John Winder, M.D., national chair of the campaign. "By educating others about the importance of proper diagnosis and treatment, we're making a difference."

Asthma affects about 20 million Americans, killing about 4,500 each year. An asthma attack is often triggered by allergens such as pollen, dust or animal dander or by certain drugs and food additives, viral respiratory infections or physical exertion. The most effective treatments for asthma, such as inhaled corticosteroids, aim at reducing inflammation of the airways.

The Science Center screening event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants will take a lung function test, which involves blowing into a tube, and meet with an allergist to discuss symptoms and test results. A simple 20-question survey, with separate formats for children and adults, will help assess breathing problems, and materials will be available in English and Spanish.

For more information, call 314-454-7376.

Funding from AstraZeneca supports the screening program.

Washington University School of Medicine's full-time and volunteer faculty physicians also are the medical staff of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's hospitals. The School of Medicine is one of the leading medical research, teaching and patient care institutions in the nation, currently ranked fourth in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Through its affiliations with Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's hospitals, the School of Medicine is linked to BJC HealthCare.