ASTHMA SUFFERERS WELCOME WARM MONTH

Predictions of a warmer-than-usual December are welcome to area asthma sufferers.

Winter usually brings on conditions that trigger more asthma episodes. Influenza is common then, and a virus on top of existing respiratory problems can be serious or even fatal.

Dr. Bradley Bittle, who treats lung disease, said about a third of his patients suffer from asthma. They experience attacks when muscles surrounding airways contract and linings in the airways swell.

Going out into cold air causes the bronchial contractions, but asthma sufferers can help alleviate that problem by using their prescribed inhaler medication before heading into the cold.

Other suggestions for asthma sufferers from Bittle and the American Lung Association include:

-- Consult a physician for proper medication and don't use over-the-counter cold medicine to treat symptoms of asthma.

-- In cold air, cover the nose and mouth to warm and moisten inhaled air.

-- Get an influenza shot.

-- Refrain from using wood stoves or fireplaces, which increase indoor air pollution.

-- If indoor air becomes dry, use a humidifier. However, keep it clean and change the water daily to avoid mold.

Following a physician's advice is important, Bittle said, because the death rate from asthma is rising despite better treatments.

"It could be that the treatments are so good that people are depending on them too much before they go to the hospital," he said. "But no one knows the reason for sure."