Blog
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RAMP’s Updated Asthma Action Plans
Central to the national Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma is the recommendation that clinicians develop a written asthma action plan in partnership with patient/family. RAMP has provided free Asthma Action Plans in multiple languages for over two decades. We work with our clinical partners to update the Asthma Action Plans periodically to…
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Webinar: Addressing Pests through Asthma Remediation
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is one of the approved services under Asthma Remediation, part of Medi-Cal’s Community Supports program. As Medi-Cal managed care plan (MCP) staff or Asthma Remediation program managers, it’s essential to understand the benefits of IPM services and how IPM services can be incorporated into Asthma Remediation. In a one-hour virtual training, RAMP and UC IPM will provide an overview…
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Recording: Introduction to ASHRAE Guideline 44 – Protecting Building Occupants from Smoke During Wildfire and Prescribed Burn Events
On February 25, 2025, the US Environmental Protection Agency hosted an Indoor Air Quality Science Webinar featuring Guideline 44, Protecting Building Occupants from Smoke During Wildfire and Prescribed Burn Events, developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). The authors of Guideline 44 provided an overview followed by a question-and-answer session…
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Study Suggests Linkage Between the Weekly Use of Disinfectants and Cleaning Products and Asthma
In December 2024, a study analyzed long-term exposure to disinfectants and cleaning products (DCPs) and identified five usage profiles among 1,143 German adults aged 19–34. Researchers found that only persistent weekly use of multiple DCPs over time was linked to a higher risk of asthma and wheezing. However, due to wide confidence intervals, uncertainty remains.…
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Preliminary Data Shows Increase in Emergency Department Use During the Los Angeles County Wildfires
In January 2025, the wildfires in Los Angeles County burned approximately 40,000 acres, destroyed approximately 16,000 structures, and killed at least 29 persons. The CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report noted that emergency departments (EDs) experienced an eightfold increase in the average percentage of ED encounters classified as wildfire-associated. Near real-time surveillance of health outcomes…
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Study Highlights the Relationship Between Geographic Location of Oil and Gas Production and COVID‐19 Cases and Mortality Rates in California
In November of 2024, a population-based ecological study, titled “Upstream Oil and Gas Production and Community COVID‐19 Case and Mortality Rates in California, USA,” examined the relationship between residential exposure to oil and gas production and COVID-19 cases and mortality rates in California. Study findings: The study suggests that air pollution from oil and gas…
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American Lung Association Offers Trainings for Asthma Professionals
The American Lung Association (ALA) provides comprehensive training programs designed to equip asthma professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively support the communities they serve. ALA’s newest training, Patient with Asthma – A Case Study, guides participants through a detailed case study, demonstrating how to apply national asthma management guidelines for diagnosing, treating,…
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Asthma Control Tests
The Asthma Control Tests below can help determine whether an individual’s asthma is well controlled or poorly controlled. These asthma control test documents are from the website of Stanford Medicine Children’s Health.
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A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Inhaled Reliever Therapies for Asthma
A systematic review and meta-analysis released in October 2024 by JAMA Network of 27 clinical trials (50,496 participants) compared inhaled asthma relievers. Findings show that combining inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) with short-acting β agonists (SABA) or formoterol significantly reduces severe asthma exacerbations and improves asthma control compared to SABA alone. ICS-formoterol showed the greatest benefit, reducing…
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Report Highlights Air Pollution Reductions and Health Benefits of Changes to US Rail System
From Margins to Growth: The Economic Case for a Public Rail System highlights a range of economic challenges of the current U.S. rail system. The report also examines the impact of changes to the rail system, including public rail ownership. According to the assessment, such changes would prevent $190 billion in public health, environmental, and…
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Study Identifies Asthma Inequities at the City Level Using the Asthma Equity Explorer Database and Tool
Utilizing the Asthma Equity Explorer Database (AEED), a free web-based database and tool for asthma research developed by MITRE and hosted by Allergy & Asthma Network, researchers examined the relationship between housing stress, redlining, the non-Hispanic Black population, and asthma prevalence four of the worst but highly diverse U.S. capital cities (Allentown, PA; Cleveland, OH;…
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Study Shows Drying Salton Sea in Southern California Raises Respiratory Health and Environmental Justice Concerns
According to a study, the desiccation of the Salton Sea in California’s Imperial Valley, exacerbated by climate change and competing water demands, poses environmental and health risks. The study, “Air quality and wheeze symptoms in a rural children’s cohort near a drying saline lake,” was published in Environmental Research in October 2024. Researchers investigated the…