Banning smoking in vehicles with children in them will help protect them from the misery of smoking-related diseases, from cancer to asthma and emphysema.
When they first told me, 'Oh yeah, you developed asthma,' I was like, 'What? There's no way. How do you develop asthma? You're supposed to be born with that.'
The reasons asthma doesn't affect my work or play is that I had accurate diagnostics and follow treatment regimens closely. It's when someone thinks they're fine and that they don't need help that they usually get in trouble.
When elected officials abandon our environment and ruin our natural resources, public health is endangered. I know the importance of providing a clean environment for our children; I have attended more than one funeral for a child who has died from an asthma attack.
As long as they are medicated the right way with the asthma medicine they won't have any problems.
What people need to know is that asthma isn't a minor 'wheeze-disease.' It kills over five thousand people in America every year, and I could've been one of them.
The key in controlling my asthma is pretty simple: I have a good professional diagnosis, and I follow my doctor's instructions closely. You need to acknowledge both.
There are few restrictions on your life with asthma, as long as you take care of yourself.
My denial and irresponsible attitude about asthma put me at great risk and caused me so much needless suffering. My hope is that the kids I talk to learn to open up about their asthma, become educated about their condition, and seek help.
If we ensure access to health care and 'best practice' asthma treatment for children, especially those at high risk, there is the potential to save the health care system billions of dollars.
