Frequently Asked Questions 

Q: What is asthma?
A: Asthma is a respiratory disease that causes inflammation and irritation in the lining of tubes that carry air to the lungs. This prevents air from reaching the lungs properly and makes breathing difficult. When the tubes are chronically inflamed they become oversensitive and hyperactive, which can lead to spasms. It is the spasms of the airways that cause the most recognizable symptoms of asthma such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath.

While some degree of inflammation is always present in people with chronic asthma, the degree of inflammation — and thus the symptoms — vary.

Q: What are the symptoms of asthma?
A: Common symptoms of asthma include:

• Wheezing – a high-pitched, whistling sound that your child may make during an asthma attack. If you hear this sound as your child breathes, be sure to let your doctor know. Not all people who wheeze have asthma, and not all those who have asthma wheeze.

• Shortness of breath – especially during exercise, is another possible sign. All children get out of breath when they're running and jumping, but most resume normal breathing very quickly afterward. If your child doesn't, a visit to your doctor is in order.

• Chronic cough – especially at nighttime or early morning, after exercise
or exposure to cold air.

• Chest tightness – a symptom that you may have to ask your child about. If you notice any of the signs just described, it's a good idea to ask your child whether he or she feels a tight, uncomfortable feeling in the chest.

 

Q: What are some triggers of asthma?
A: Triggers vary from person to person, but some common triggers include cold air; exercise; allergens (things that cause allergies) such as dust mites, mold, pollen, animal dander or cockroach debris; and some types of viral infections.

Environmental irritants can also trigger an asthma attack, such as tobacco smoke, pollution, paint fumes, smog, aerosol sprays and perfume. Even sudden changes in weather can precipitate a flare-up.
Each case of asthma is unique to that particular child. It is important to keep track of the factors or triggers that you know to provoke asthma attacks in your child.

Q: What does the Asthma Signal program do?
A: The service provides personalized alerts and reminders to optimize the quality of life of families of children with asthma.
It does not provide or substitute for an Asthma Action Plan.

Q: How easy is it to use?
A: The program requires little effort to use on the part of the adult or child.
It does not require a patient diary or other record keeping system.

Q: What will my physician think of it?
A: The services encourages optimal use of the child’s Asthma Action Plan.
It does not, however, substitute for seeing a doctor, nurse, or specialist.

The program encourages the effective use of medication as prescribed by health care professionals.
It does not discourage the use of medication.

Q: What about ‘standards of care’?
A: The service encourages the practice of ‘evidence-based medicine’ and standardized
treatment protocols.
It does not provide alternatives to standard practice for asthma care.

Q: How will we know it works?
A: The program bases its effectiveness on assessing the reduction of ER visits, lost school days and associated lost parent workdays.
The service will not be measured on individual or isolated metrics.

Q: What data does Asthma Signals use from my child’s experience?
A: The service collects and aggregates alerts, recommendations and actionable data in a secure fashion, and subsequently analyzes that information to continuously improve its performance.
The service does not create or share children’s original health data.

Q: What information can I expect to receive via text message?
A: The program integrates the child’s medical data and interprets multiple inputs to create
a set of easy-to-follow recommendations.
The program does not deliver data on singular triggers, such as air quality and pollen count for a particular location.