GLOSSARY OF TERMS

A

Acute: something that is acute occurs suddenly, becomes severe quickly, and goes away after a short time.

Asthma Action Plan: a written self-management plan with red, yellow and green zones that gives guidance to families on how to track symptoms, monitor breathing, and give medication.

Asthma-friendly schools (AFS): term referring to the concept of moving schools toward policies and procedures that support a safe and supportive environment for students with asthma.

Allergen: a substance (such as pollen) that the body reacts to with an allergic reaction. Common allergens include dust mites, pollens, molds, pet dander, and cockroaches.

Allergic reaction: the symptoms that occur in response to exposure to an allergen. E.g. sneezing, wheezing, coughing, hives, red or watery eyes.

Allergy: an exaggerated response to a substance (e.g. pollen) or condition.

AAAAI: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

ALA: American Lung Association.

ASHR: Automated School Health Record (ASHR) NYC public school asthma-tracking program.

Asthma: a disease of the airways. It affects the branches of the lung (bronchial tubes) that carry air in and out of the lungs. Asthma causes the airways to become inflamed (swell). The muscles around the airways become tight and excess mucus is produced in the airways. The swelling, tightening and mucus make the airway more narrow, making it hard to breathe. Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness or pain.

Atopic (see also Atopy): relating to allergy or an allergic condition.

Atopy: the tendency, usually genetic, to develop IgE-mediated responses-or responses of the lungs, skin and mucous membranes-to common environmental allergens.

B

Beta2-agonists: a type of asthma medication. The medication is a bronchodilator. It opens the airways of the lung by relaxing the muscles around the airways that have tightened. These medications may be short-acting (quick-relief) or long-acting (control) medications. a. Short-acting beta2-agonists are the medications used to relieve acute asthma symptoms when they occur. b. Long-acting beta2-agonists are used to provide relief for asthma symptoms resulting from constriction of the smooth muscle around the airway as well, but have a slower onset and last longer.

Bioallergens: organic allergens, such as mold or pollen.

Bronchial hyperreactivity: tendency of the smooth muscle of the airways to contract more intensely in response to a given stimulus than it does in normal individuals. This condition is present in patients with asthma.

Bronchodilator: a medication that opens the airways by relaxing the muscle bands that tighten around the airways.

Bronchospasm: the tightening of the muscle bands surrounding the airways, causing them to narrow.

C

Chronic: Does not go away. Asthma is chronic because a person who has it always has the disease, even when they are not having any symptoms.

CMAQ (Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality): US Dept. of Transportation clean air initiative.

Contagious: Can catch it from someone else. A cold is contagious.

Corticosteroids: see Steroid.

D

Dander: Tiny scales shed from animal skin or hair. Dander floats in the air, settles on surfaces, and is a major part of household dust. Cat dander is a common cause of allergic reactions.

Dry powder inhaler (DPI): a device for inhaled medications that come in powder form.

Dust mite: a microscopic insect present in carpet, stuffed animals, upholstered furniture, and bedding, including pillows, mattresses, quilts, and other bed covers. Dust mites are one of the most common asthma triggers. They thrive in areas with high humidity.

E

EHAWG: East Harlem Asthma Working Group: 212-828-9800 x106.

ETS (environmental tobacco smoke): smoke and other particulates emitted from burning cigarettes.

Exacerbations: worsening of asthma symptoms. Also called asthma attacks, asthma episodes, asthma emergencies, flare-ups, and flares. Can be sudden or gradual, always reversible.

Exercise-induced asthma (EIA): asthma episodes following exercise. They usually only last a short length of time and go away on their own. Many people with asthma find that exercising in cold air gives them EIA and that exercising in warm humid air does not. EIA can be prevented with medications taken 5–10 minutes prior to physical activity.

Exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB): see EIA.

F

Flare-ups: episodes of asthma symptoms. Also called asthma attacks, asthma episodes, asthma emergencies, flares, and exacerbations.

G

Gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD): a disorder that causes heartburn when acid from the stomach flows up into the esophagus. Acid reflux can trigger asthma, and make asthma harder to diagnose and treat. Also called acid reflux disease.

H

HEPA (High-efficiency particulate air) filter: a filter that removes particles in the air by forcing them through screens containing microscopic pores. It removes pollen, mold spores, animal hair, dander, dust mites, smoke particles and is frequently used to improve the home environment of people with allergies.

Histamine: a naturally occurring substance in the body that causes allergic reactions (redness, itching, and swelling) of the nose and eyes. The reaction can occur in the lung, causing the airways to narrow.

HVAC: Heating-ventilation-air-conditioning.

Hyperresponsiveness of the airways: Also called twitchy airways. See Bronchial hyperreactivity.

Hypersensitivity: altered reactivity to an antigen, which can result in pathologic reactions upon subsequent exposure to that particular antigen.

I

IAQ (indoor air quality): the quality of indoor air. Indoor air is commonly polluted by gases or particles, such as those released from oil, gas, coal, wood, kerosene, radon, pesticides, asbestos, and a variety of manufactured wood and carpet products. The effects of these pollutants have been exacerbated in recent years with the increased energy efficiency of buildings.

Inhaler: see Metered-dose inhaler (MDI).

IgE: antibodies produced by the lungs, skin, and mucous membranes in response to allergen exposure.

Idling: Running a vehicle engine when the vehicle is not moving.

Incidence: the number of new cases in a particular period of time.

Incurable: cannot be cured. A disease that is incurable will never go away -- that doesn't mean it cannot be managed or controlled through proper medical care and enironmental management. Almost every person with asthma can lead a normal life.

Inflammation: A physical response to injury or irritation. The inflamed area gets red and swollen.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM): specific set of practices for the control of cockroaches and other pests, such as mice and rats, focusing on prevention and minimizing the use of pesticides.

Irritants: substances that irritate the nose, throat, or airways when inhaled or contacted, triggering a reflex response. The reaction to irritants is not immune mediated. Irritants include smoke from tobacco, wood fires, or charcoal grills; strong fumes or odors from deodorizers, hair spray, gasoline, perfumes, scented soaps, and dry-erase markers.

L

Long-term control medication: a medication taken daily to control asthma symptoms. These are not used for quick relief of asthma symptoms; long-term meds address the underlying cause of inflammation. They are increasingly seen as the most importance advance in asthma control. Also called controllers, maintenance medications.

M

Medication Administration Form (MAF): the form that schools must have on file for all children who take medications. For asthmatic children, the form allows the school nurse to keep their medications at the school. The form must be filled out by a child’s doctor.
Metered dose inhaler (MDI): small aerosol canister in a plastic container that releases a mist of medication when pressed down from the top.
This medication can be breathed into the airways. Many asthma medications are taken using an MDI. Also called inhaler, pump, puffer.

Methacholine: a chemical that, when inhaled, causes tightening of the airways similar to an asthma attack. It is used to trigger an asthma attack when a health care provider is evaluating a patient.

Methacholine challenge: a diagnostic test using an inhaled chemical (methacholine) that causes tightening of the airways similar to an asthma attack.

Mold: Molds are plants that make spores, instead of seeds, that float in the air like pollen. They are a common trigger for allergies and are found in damp areas, (basement, bathrooms, locker rooms, and other areas that tend to be moist), and outdoors (grass, leaf piles, hay, mulch, and silos).

Morbidity: extent to which quality of life or physical health is impaired due to health condition (e.g., frequent asthma episodes, school absences due to asthma, emergency department visits, hospitalizations).

Mucous: adjective for material produced by mucous-secreting cells.

Mucus: Material produced by glands in the airways, nose, and sinuses.

Muscle constriction: when muscles tighten. In asthma, the muscles around the airway constrict, making the airway smaller.

N

Nebulizer: a device that changes liquid medicine into fine droplets (aerosol or mist form) that are inhaled through a mouthpiece or mask. Nebulizers are used to deliver quick relief medications such as albuterol, as well as anti-inflammatory medicines. A nebulizer may be used instead of a metered-dose inhaler (MDI). Often used with small children and the elderly.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID): aspirin, for.example, can sometimes cause asthma attacks.

NYCAP: New York City Asthma Partnership, under the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH).

O

Occupational asthma: asthma symptoms that develop as a result of exposure to chemicals and other air pollution in the workplace. Symptoms may be present during the hours spent in particular work environments, subside when individuals remove themselves from that environment, and recur upon re-exposure.

P

Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR): a test used to measure how fast air can be exhaled from the lungs.

Peak flow meter: a small hand-held device that measures how fast air comes out of the lungs when a person exhales forcefully. Readings from the meter can help individuals recognize early changes that may be signs of worsening asthma. A peak flow meter can also inform what triggers asthma symptoms and help individuals understand what symptoms indicate that emergency care is needed. Peak flow readings also help health care providers decide when to stop or add medications.

Peak flow zones: a system to help with asthma management. The three zones are red, yellow, and green like a traffic light. The way the zones work is that children measure their peak flow readings and symptoms and use that information to see which zone they are in at that particular time. If they are in the green zone, they should continue following their asthma treatment plan. If they are in the yellow zone, they have some asthma symptoms that are getting worse and they need to take some action to stop the symptoms. For example, they may need to take a puff of their quick relief inhaler. If they are in the red zone, they are having an asthma emergency and need immediate medical help.

Personal best peak expiratory flow: the highest peak flow number you can achieve when symptoms are under good control. The personal best is the number to which all other peak flow readings will be compared. In children, peak expiratory flow rates change as they grow. A child’s personal best peak expiratory flow should be rechecked and redetermined approximately every 6 months or when a growth spurt has occurred.

Pollen and mold counts: a measure of the amount of allergens in the air. The counts are usually reported for mold spores and three types of pollen: grasses, trees, and weeds. The count is reported as absent, low, medium, or high.

Prevalence: the number of all new and old cases of a disease or occurrences of an event, disease, disorder, or abnormality during a particular period of time.

Puffer: another term for inhaler or metered-dose inhaler.

Pulmonary function tests (PFTs): a series of tests that measure many aspects of how well the lungs function.

Pulse oximetry: a test in which a device that clips on the finger measures the oxygen level in the blood.

Q

Quick-relief medication: a medication that rapidly opens the airways to relieve symptoms of asthma. They are used when symptoms occur or as a preventive treatment before exercise or exposure to a known allergen that someone may not be able to avoid (e.g., perfume on strangers). Also known as reliever medications.

R

RAD/reactive airway disease: often used interchangeably with asthma, but generally taken to be more general in scope. The diagnosis of RAD (reactive airway disease) generally conveys that airways are reacting through inflammation with an unknown etiology-infection, atopic disease, and/or environmental exposure. Include?

Respiratory hypersensitivity: a form of hypersensitivity affecting the respiratory tract. It includes both asthma and what is commonly termed “hay fever.”

S

School Wide Asthma Protocol (SWAP): a system for managing asthma in the school. The SWAP program helps teachers and other school staff know which students have asthma, what their triggers are, and how to respond if there is an asthma emergency.

Spacer: a chamber that is used with a metered-dose inhaler to help ensure that the medication goes into the lungs instead of the mouth. Spacers also make metered-dose inhalers easier to use and are sometimes referred to as “holding chambers.”

Spirometry: a basic lung function test that measures how fast and how much air can be breathed out of the lungs.

Squirter: term used by some children for inhaler or MDI.

Status asthmaticus: a sudden intense and continuous aggravation of a state of asthma, marked by dyspnea to the point of exhaustion, respiratory collapse, and a lack of response to the usual therapeutic efforts.

Steroid: as related to asthma, steroid refers to corticosteroids, medications that reduce swelling and inflammation. Available in oral (pill and liquid) and inhaled forms. Also called corticosteroid.

T

Tachypnea: rapid breathing with respiratory rates above normal for age.

Triggers: allergens or irritants that cause asthma symptoms to start or become worse.

V

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): chemical compounds that are used for a variety of manufacturing and household purposes, known to have deleterious health effects. Examples include degreasers, fumigants, and dry cleaning chemicals.

W

WHEACT: West Harlem Environmental Action- 212-961-1133.

Wheezing: the high-pitched whistling sound of air moving through narrowed airways.

Z

Zone: As in “school zone,” the school and the streets surrounding the school.