May Is Asthma Awareness Month

Contact: Lucia LeeMount Sinai Press Office212-241-9200[email protected]

May is Asthma Awareness Month Mount Sinai Doctors Offer Tips on Staying Healthy Newswise — (NEW YORK, NY – May 2, 2016) — For those with asthma, springtime brings an increase in symptoms, making awareness of symptom triggers and health risk factors particularly crucial. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, 25 million or 8% of the US population suffer from asthma. The cost associated with care and absences from work due to illness is over $56 billion each year. A diagnosis of asthma can lead to limited physical activity, absences from work or school, and frequent emergency room visits. “Asthma is a lifelong disease that causes wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing,” said Linda Rogers, MD, Associate Professor of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Director of the Clinical Asthma Program at Mount Sinai-National Jewish Health Respiratory Institute. “While there is no cure for asthma, a personalized care plan including appropriate medications and education on triggers and proper care techniques can prevent attacks from occurring, helping patients lead a full and active life.” Signs and Symptoms of an Asthma AttackDuring an asthma attack, airways and lungs swell and constrict airflow. Tightened airways can also cause mucous to build up and further limit air supply. Symptoms may include wheezing, chest tightness, coughing and trouble breathing. Asthma attack triggers are unique to each sufferer, but some common triggers include:· Tobacco smoke· Outdoor air pollution· Dust mites· Pet dander· Idling cars· Cockroach allergen· Mold

In addition to performing research on the underlying causes of asthma, Mount Sinai is using mobile devices to track, educate and monitor asthmatic patients. The Asthma Health App allows asthma patients to self-monitor symptoms and triggers, promotes positive behavioral changes and adherence to treatment plans, and provides researchers with critical data. Mount Sinai Experts Available for Interview:• Linda Rogers, MD, Associate Professor of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Director of the Clinical Asthma Program at Mount Sinai-National Jewish Health Respiratory Institute. Mount Sinai Patients Available for Interview:• Michelle Sirjue, a 30-year old avid mountain climber and hiker and the first patient enrolled in the Asthma Health app research program, is available for interview. About the Mount Sinai Health SystemThe Mount Sinai Health System is an integrated health system committed to providing distinguished care, conducting transformative research, and advancing biomedical education. Structured around seven hospital campuses and a single medical school, the Health System has an extensive ambulatory network and a range of inpatient and outpatient services—from community-based facilities to tertiary and quaternary care. The System includes approximately 6,100 primary and specialty care physicians; 12 joint-venture ambulatory surgery centers; more than 140 ambulatory practices throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida; and 31 affiliated community health centers. Physicians are affiliated with the renowned Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, which is ranked among the highest in the nation in National Institutes of Health funding per investigator. The Mount Sinai Hospital is ranked as one of the nation’s top 10 hospitals in Geriatrics, Cardiology/Heart Surgery, and Gastroenterology, and is in the top 25 in five other specialties in the 2015-2016 “Best Hospitals” issue of U.S. News & World Report. Mount Sinai’s Kravis Children’s Hospital also is ranked in seven out of ten pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report. The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai is ranked 11th nationally for Ophthalmology, while Mount Sinai Beth Israel is ranked regionally. For more information, visit http://www.mountsinai.org or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. # # #