February 9, 2004

Asthma rates in Stanislaus County are among the worst in the state, but there may be a bright spot ahead. Steps to clear the Valley’s air may eventually decrease the number of people with asthma.

Measures like the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District’s “no-burn days” will certainly help the asthma situation, but it’s hard to tell how soon and to what extent health will improve, said Floredida Quiaoit of Stanislaus Health Services.

Detection of asthma is better now than in the past, and other factors like allergies, mold and global changes contribute to the illness in addition to air quality problems.

“With asthma, there are many triggers,” Quiaoit said. “In urban settings, you find a lot of inner-city kids with high rates of asthma.”

According to the California Health Interview Survey, 14 percent of people in Stanislaus County said they’ve been diagnosed with asthma. That’s more than twice the national average.

San Joaquin Valley is one of the dirtiest air basins in the nations. In Fresno County, nearly 1 in 5 adults has asthma, according a report released last week by the Central Valley Health Policy Institute at California State University, Fresno.

In 2000, 3.5 percent of hospital discharges were due to asthma, according to the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development.

The Valley’s air is worst during winter months when residents use fireplaces the most. That’s why the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District implemented new rules several months ago that forbid use of fireplaces on certain days.

On other days, the district doesn’t disallow woodburning, but asks Valley residents to avoid it if possible.

An asthma coalition was formed in response to the massive tire fire in Westley in 1999 that burned for more than a month and blanketed the Valley in thick smoke.

The coalition, spearheaded by the American Lung Association, met with Merced Medical Services and began the process of building “design guidelines” for the Valley’s air health.

Today, the coalition is working to help hospitals form action plans for dealing with asthma. Also, the group is working with schools to identify students who may have the illness.

“We’ve seen that children can have a reduced occurrence when they get older,” Quiaoit said.

Symptoms of asthma include wheezing, continuous coughing, respiratory distress and nasal flaring.

Reprinted by permission of the Turlock Journal