TEXAS — For those with asthma, it’s a daily reality, and getting diagnosed early can be a relief as it helps with coping strategies.
What You Need To Know
A report recently released by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America shows some Texas cities are challenging places to live if you have asthma
The SA Kids BREATHE program helps find solutions for uncontrolled asthma for kids 3-17 years of age
The leading patient organization that tracks asthma and allergies nationwide showed the rate of asthma, emergency room visits and deaths related to asthma has decreased in San Antonio
Other Texas cities also made the list of challenging places to live with asthma, but none made the top 10
A report recently released by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America shows some Texas cities are challenging places to live if you have asthma.
However, there is an improvement in cities like San Antonio.
Paul Kloppe has made it his mission each day to educate parents and their children on how to deal with asthma.
“I’ve been in respiratory for close to 50 years and an educator over 30,” said Kloppe.
He’s an educator with Metro Health through SA Kids BREATHE. The free program helps find solutions for uncontrolled asthma for kids 3-17 years of age.
Kloppe said that on average the program gets anywhere from 350 to 400 referrals a year.
“We’re in the midst of what we call asthma peak. That’s when kids go back to school. They’re around allergens. They’re around kids that have maybe a virus. All those kind of things compel asthmatics,” said Kloppe.
He said with our proximity to nearby air pollution, asthmatics are in an uphill battle.
“We’re always going to get the smoke from Mexico. We’re always going to get the Sahran dust. We always have pollution because we get the backwash from Houston. Unfortunately, we do get that cross winds. Air quality is still the same depending on how the environment is,” said Kloppe.
Good news, there is a silver lining. The leading patient organization that tracks asthma and allergies nationwide showed the rate of asthma, emergency room visits and deaths related to asthma has decreased in San Antonio.
“We’re average. We used to be a lot worse. They do national capitals of asthma basically by the Allergy and Asthma National Foundation. We were very close to number 1. Now we’re at 80, so have we improved? Let’s hope so,” said Kloppe.
Other Texas cities also made the list of challenging places to live with asthma, but none made the top 10.
No. 36 Dallas
No. 75 El Paso
No. 86 Austin
“We teach them how and make sure that they’re using an inhaler 100% correctly,” said Kloppe.
For Kloppe, continuing to educate, like he has for the last 30 years, is crucial.
“Seeing how you can help one on one with individuals, that is something that is heartwarming and rewarding,” said Kloppe.