Asthma is often misunderstood, leading to a myriad of challenges for those who live with it every day. In our latest podcast episode, we had the pleasure of welcoming Andrea, a Certified Health Education Specialist and an award-winning asthma educator. With her personal connection to asthma—namely, her son’s diagnosis that transformed her life—Andrea provides invaluable insights into managing this condition. This blog post delves into the core themes of the episode, emphasizing the importance of accurate asthma education and debunking common myths surrounding the disease.
Andrea shared her own experiences as a mother when her son was diagnosed with asthma at a young age. A deep maternal instinct drove her to seek answers, leading her down a path where she became immersed in asthma education. As she recalls her struggles, it becomes apparent that the lack of knowledge about asthma—particularly in the early 2000s—left her feeling overwhelmed. Andrea’s story resonates with many parents who experience similar feelings when first navigating a chronic illness.
One of the crucial points Andrea emphasized is the transformative impact of personalized asthma education through home visit programs. These initiatives significantly reduce emergency room visits and hospitalizations, as families learn to recognize asthma triggers and proper inhaler techniques in the comfort of their homes. Andrea’s program proudly boasts an impressive reduction of 87% in hospital admissions, illustrating how tailored education can save lives. She also encouraged the audience to seek out local asthma home visit programs, stating that many could benefit from such resources.
We also delved into the misconceptions associated with asthma. Many assume it’s solely a childhood illness or that individuals can simply outgrow it—or even worse, that it’s all in one’s head. Andrea debunks these myths by explaining that asthma is a lifelong condition for many people and can manifest differently depending on the individual. She equips listeners with an understanding that control lies not only in medication but in lifestyle adjustments as well, such as maintaining a clean environment and being aware of common allergens.
Andrea’s call to action resonates strongly: advocate for accurate health education and challenge the stigma surrounding asthma treatments. She encourages everyone—whether patients, caregivers, or healthcare providers—to question information and encourage people to have open dialogues with their doctors about the best interventions for their unique circumstances. The importance of not dismissing inhalers or medications, as they are essential for managing symptoms, has never been more prominent in our discussion.
Our conversation also took us across cultural contexts, showing how asthma management varies globally. Andrea highlighted that medication names differ by country, and she emphasized sharing educational resources across different cultures. It was enlightening to see the nuances in asthma management, showing how education must be tailored to meet diverse needs.
In conclusion, this episode serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of education, family support, and the right resources in managing asthma. Andrea’s journey from a panicked mother to an empowered advocate for asthma education illustrates the strength found in understanding. We hope our listeners walk away with greater awareness and actionable steps toward better asthma management for themselves and their families.
Empowering Parents through Asthma Education
Andrea switched careers from Interior Design to Public Health after she and all three of her children
were diagnosed with asthma back in the early 2000’s. She returned to college to earn a Public Health
degree, then became nationally certified in Public Health (CHES) and as an Asthma Educator (AE-C). She
founded the Asthma Program at Utah County Health Department in 2009. She coordinated an Asthma
Home Visit Program and provided guidelines-based asthma education and environmental intervention
education. Utah’s statewide program received national recognition with the 2022 EPA Environmental
Leadership for Asthma Management.
She has presented nationally at asthma conferences and been published in peer reviewed journals.
Andrea worked for a national allergy & asthma nonprofit and now consults for a global allergy & asthma
nonprofit.
Andrea is past chair of the Utah Asthma Task Force, Past President of the Utah Society of Public Health
Educators, former Executive Board Member of Association of Asthma Educators.
She has received numerous awards, the latest being the national 2024 Caregiver Champion Award from
the Social Health Network.
Andrea authors an award – winning blog, My Life as an Asthma Mom, where she shares accurate
information from reputable resources. She creates low literacy level asthma education graphics and
posts them on her Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts under My Life as an Asthma Mom. She is
also a content developer for asthma.net and allergies.net