Stop Asthma Deaths

On Friday August 27^th, 2010, Briana Ojeda, an eleven year old girl, succumbed to an asthma attack. Asthma took Briana Ojeda's life because her mother couldn't get her to the hospital in time. ABC News in NY reports Briana's mother, Carmen, was rushing her daughter to the hospital when she flagged down a police officer. This NYPD police officer, Alfonso Mendez, allegedly informed the mother he didn't know CPR and interfered with Briana's urgently needed asthma treatment. Briana Ojeda is being buried today with a full princess funeral, including a glass carriage and horses, reported by the family on ABC News. Briana's death is a senseless one, especially if the alleged circumstances are declared to be valid after a complete investigation.

Asthma is defined as a chronic disorder characterized by wheezing, coughing, and difficulty in breathing. Asthma involves inflammation of the airways in the lungs. Symptoms are, coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, whistling and tightness in chest. An asthma attack occurs when the airways become inflamed, swollen and constricted, due to contact with a physical or chemical substance, and asthma can kill rather quickly if a patient doesn't receive emergency treatment. Still there are patients and parents who don't consider asthma to be a serious condition. You can't mess with asthma.

The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports there are 5,000 deaths annually due to asthma. Asthma attacks induce a high rate of hospital ER visits. Asthma deaths can be prevented if a patient is given proper medical asthma treatments, maintains that treatment and attends their follow up medical appointments. The center also reports African-American children have a higher incidence of asthma. http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/

Briana Ojeda had her asthma attack when she was playing in the playground. The public doesn't know what asthma treatments Briana was taking for asthma prevention or what induced this critical attack. We don't know if Brian's mother attempted to use prescribed asthma medication in an attempt to curb the attack. Briana is another child who died from an asthma attack, proving asthma has to be treated quickly and taken seriously.

I suffer from chronic asthma, and take maintenance medication. My most severe asthma attack happened when I was in a hospital post surgery. My airways closed and I started whistling, struggling for air. The panic you feel struggling, not being able to take in enough oxygen increases, making you hyperventilate. Nebulizer treatments, adrenaline injections and Benadryl weren't helping. Helium mixed air canister treatment was finally used; giving me forced air treatments, opening my lung airways. If your airways in your lungs close, CPR is difficult due to the fact oxygen can't get down your constricted lung airways. Your heart requires oxygen from your lungs to pump oxygenated blood through your body. With asthma you don't want to reach the point when your lung airways are totally constricted.

Asthma prevention and education is the key to stopping asthma deaths. A peak flow meter is an instrument you can use to monitor your lung airways. Prevention by avoiding triggers and asthma medications for long term maintenance and prevention are required. Quick instant asthma attack relievers in forms of inhalers are needed and should be on your person at all times. Medical attention should be rendered within ten minutes if an asthma attack is not relieved. Asthma education should be given to all asthma patients along with doctor's reinforcing the dangers of not following prescribed treatments. Young teens tend to not follow their asthma treatment plans, believing their disease isn't fatal. Also the financial cost of asthma treatment and medications prevents some patients from tending to this disease, rendering frequent emergency ER visits.

Stop Asthma deaths! Briana Ojeda is dressed as a princess, being walked through NYC streets in a white carriage for her funeral today. Briana Ojeda's death is a senseless one, due to a delay in treatment due to the unfortunate circumstances. Briana Ojeda's death brings the seriousness of untreated asthma to our attention. May she RIP!

You can find out further information about Asthma deaths via the below website link.

http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/a/asthma/deaths.htm

You can find out further information about Asthma via Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America's website via the link below.

http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=8&sub=42

The End