Sonoma County Asthma Coalition

Why Join Us?

The Sonoma County Asthma Coalition gives you the opportunity to make a difference in our community and change the lives of people with asthma.

We work to identify and share resources and to strengthen our community’s response to asthma issues. We believe that through collaboration we will accomplish more than on our own.

Sponsored by the American Lung Association of California

For more information on our sponsor see the American Lung Association of California

For more information about our bike ride go to
Breathe Easy Ride

Asthma: A Growing Health Concern

One in six children in California has been diagnosed with asthma, a serious chronic health condition. Asthma affects nearly 1.4 million children in the state and costs $667 million a year in hospital stays alone.

There are now more than 24 million Americans, including 7 million children, affected by asthma, accounting for 3 million lost work days and 10 million lost school days annually.

Common outdoor environmental triggers include diesel exhaust, tobacco smoke, wood smoke, and pollen. Indoor environmental triggers include mold, dustmites, cockroaches, pests and animal dander. Common symptoms include breathlessness, rapid breathing, wheezing and sudden fatigue while exercising. People with asthma often suffer from recurrent sinus infections and frequent colds.

As a community we need to better understand the relationship of environmental triggers to the increased instance of asthma attacks. We need to work to reduce these triggers, recognize the signs of an asthma attack, make sure adults and children have asthma care action plans and medications, and access to their medications at the workplace and at school.

Symptoms of asthma are different for each person and can include a runny nose, nasal congestion, watery eyes, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, dizziness or headache, coughing fatigue, fever, skin rashes or itching and digestive problems.

Background

In response to the growing local concern about asthma, the Sonoma County Asthma Coalition was formed in conjunction with the American Lung Association of California – Santa Rosa Office in 2002. There are approximately 30 organizations and individuals currently involved and working on several subcommittees including Housing & Indoor Air Quality, Policy and Advocacy, and Schools.

Mission

The Sonoma County Asthma Coalition’s mission is to work with key stakeholders to improve the quality of life of people affected by asthma and to advocate for policies to minimize the impact of asthma in Sonoma County.