Asthma is a common disease among New York City's children and adults. People
with asthma have chronic lung inflammation and episodes of airway tightening
that cause symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath.
Asthma is a leading cause of missed school among children and is the most
common cause of hospitalization for children 14 years and younger. Among adults,
asthma causes missed work, emergency department visits, and limitation of
activity.
Although we do not yet know how to prevent asthma, we do know that asthma can
be controlled both by avoiding exposure to triggers and by taking
anti-inflammatory medicines. With good control, almost all people with asthma
can lead normal, active lives. Learn
more about asthma.
Some of our programs include:
The East Harlem Asthma Center of Excellence (EHACE) was
established to address the high rate of asthma hospitalizations among East
Harlem’s children. EHACE provides an array of services to children with
persistent asthma.
Learn more about EHACE
and its accomplishments.
Managing Asthma in Schools (MAS) is a comprehensive program
designed to improve the coordination of care for children with asthma in public
elementary schools. A key component of the program is the use of an automated
student health record (ASHR) to track asthma and other medical care. The program
also provides enhanced asthma training to school nurses and physicians, and
works to improve communication between school health clinicians, parents, and
community providers.
Managing Asthma in Early Childhood Programs supports the
enhancement of health tracking and coordination of care for children with asthma
in over 250 Early Childhood Programs in New York City. The project targets
neighborhoods with consistently high rates of asthma-related hospitalizations
and emergency department visits among children: East and Central Harlem, North
and Central Brooklyn, and the South Bronx.
Community Integrated Pest Management Program (IPM): DOHMH
works with pest control agencies, and community partners to eliminate
cockroaches and mice, common asthma triggers in low-income apartments where
people with asthma reside.
Call 311 to request asthma action plans, health bulletins,
and other materials.
About the New York City Asthma Initiative
The New York City Asthma Initiative continues to coordinate the New York City
Asthma Partnership (NYCAP), a citywide coalition of over 400 organizations and
individuals initiated in 1999. NYCAP brings together representatives from
schools, daycare, health care institutions, pharmacies, community based
organizations, government, and others who make recommendations to improve
citywide policies and systems that affect people with asthma. NYCAP addressee
the following: the environment, asthma education, data and research, health care
delivery, and issues affecting children in schools, early childhood, and
recreation programs.
New York City Asthma Initiative is working to:
- Improve medical standards of care for children and adults with asthma
- Enhance self-management support for individuals with asthma
- Enhance citywide asthma education standards and delivery
- Promote “asthma friendly” schools and daycare settings
- Reduce asthma triggers in both homes and communities
- Monitor and track asthma prevalence, emergency department visits,
hospitalizations, and deaths.
