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Asthma at School

Role of the Teacher

Identify the high-risk students with asthma:

  • Previous life-threatening episodes
  • Three or more emergency room visits in one year
  • Prior hospitalizations within one year
  • History of non-adherence to asthma treatment regimen
  • Recurrent nighttime asthma requiring medications
  • Know the early warning signs
  • Have a copy of the students Asthma Action Plan in your classroom
  • Understand the student may feel tired, different from other students, anxious
    about easy access to medications, embarrassed about asthma, worried about
    activities that induce asthma

Asthma Facts

  • Asthma is the most common chronic disease of children
  • There are approximately 22 million people in the USA diagnosed with asthma
  • Asthma is the leading cause of school absenteeism in the United States
  • Children with uncontrolled asthma miss approximately 14 days of school per year
  • Asthma education is a vital component of asthma management
  • Asthma specialists (Allergist, Pulmonologist) are needed to care for mild
    persistent, moderate persistent and severe persistent asthma
  • If properly managed, people with asthma can live a happy, healthy, active life

Early Warning Signs

  • Low peak flows
  • Chronic cough (especially at night)
  • itchy, scratchy, sore throat
  • headache, stopped up head, sneezing
  • shortness of breath with exertion restlessness, more irritable,
    or at even rest
  • dark circles under the eyes
  • restlessness, more irritable
  • increased fatigue
  • tired, itchy watery, glassy eyes

Asthma Action Plan

An action plan is a treatment plan for worsening asthma. The action plan adjusts to the severity of symptoms so that students can control their asthma. People with asthma should have a treatment and management plan developed by their health care team. An Asthma Action Plan is a special road map to know how to take care of asthma each day.

When peak flow rates are:

Green Zone
  • Everything is all "go"
  • 80% or more of what your peak flow rate should be
Yellow Zone
  • Caution
  • 60 to 80% of what your peak flow rate should be
Red Zone
  • Medical emergency - peak flow rates are less than 50% of what it should be

Peak Flow Monitoring

A peak flow meter is a device that measures how well air moves in and out of the lungs. During an asthma episode, the airways become inflamed and narrowed. Many people who take asthma medicine daily use a peak flow meter several times a day.

How to Use the Peak Flow Meter

  • Set the marker to the bottom of the numeric scale.
  • Take a deep breath. Be sure you are standing up.
  • Place your lips tight around the mouthpiece.
  • Talk a big deep breath in.
  • Blow as hard and fast as possible. Blast the air out fast!
  • Note the final position of the marker. This is your peak flow rate.

Inhalers

Metered dose inhaler:

This is a small canister that contains the medication you need to control your asthma or relieve bronchospasms during an asthma episode (Advair HFA, Symbicort, ProAir HFA, Xopenex HFA, Albuterol HFA, Flovent HFA, Q-Var HFA, etc.). Proper inhaler technique must be performed to efficiently receive the medicine.

  1. Shake inhaler and place in your spacer. You may need to remove the inhaler from the canister if your spacer requires no case.
  2. Take 2 or 3 slow and deep warm up breaths.
  3. Sit up straight and be sure you are holding your head looking straight ahead.
  4. Slowly exhale.
  5. Place inhaler in your mouth, and then spray one spray.
  6. Slowly breathe in and hold your breath at least 10 seconds.
  7. Remove the spacer from your mouth and slowly exhale.
  8. Properly place spacer back into your mouth and slowly breathe in again.
  9. Hold your breath at least 10 seconds then slowly exhale.
  10. Wait 1 to 3 minutes and repeat as ordered by your doctor. (Be sure to shake your inhaler again!) Rinse your mouth after using anti-inflammatory medications.

Dry powdered inhalers:

This is medication that is in powder form. (Advair Diskus, Pulmicort Flexhaler, Asmanex, etc.)

  1. Breathe out slowly.
  2. Put your mouth on the mouthpiece.
  3. Take a big deep breath in real fast.
  4. Hold your breath for 10 seconds.
  5. Blow out slowly.

Conditions Treated

Recent News

SuperUser Account
/ Categories: News

High Cedar Pollen Levels Return for the Seventh Time in Ten Days

Highest Levels of Tree Pollen Detected in the United States for 2/26/2026

February 26, 2026

A VERY HIGH ALERT has been issued for tree pollen levels in Oklahoma City, marking the SIXTH VERY HIGH ALERT in the last ten days, and the SEVENTH HIGH or VERY HIGH ALERT in that same timeframe. Today’s counts are the highest reported in the U.S. and the second highest recorded this year.

Cedar and Elm (Chinese Elm, also known as Lacebark Elm) pollen counts are both registering in the VERY HIGH range. These counts represent an extreme exposure situation, with severe symptoms expected in pollen-sensitive individuals. Those with allergic bronchial asthma are strongly advised to stay indoors.

Today also marks the FOURTH DAY in the TOP TEN HIGHEST Cedar Season Days in the past five years. For all tree pollen seasons, it ranks as the SEVENTH highest day recorded in 20 years in Oklahoma City.

Cedar Fever and Regional Impact

Cedar tree pollen contributes to “Cedar Fever”, a winter allergy affecting millions across Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri. Unlike spring and summer allergies, Cedar Fever peaks from late November to February, with pollen grains capable of traveling hundreds of miles in Oklahoma winds.

Recommendations to Reduce Exposure

OAAC allergists recommend the following steps:

  • Limit outdoor activities on high pollen days
  • Keep windows closed at home and in vehicles
  • Change clothes and shower after being outdoors
  • Leave shoes at the door to avoid tracking pollen inside
  • Wash hands frequently, especially after outdoor contact
  • Wear a dust mask for outdoor chores
  • Use and regularly replace HEPA filters in HVAC systems

Medical Management

  • Continuous use of nasal sprays and antihistamines may help, but proper diagnosis is essential
  • Seasonal allergies cannot be diagnosed by history alone. OAAC allergists offer simple tests to identify specific triggers

OAAC serves patients of all ages across the southwest region, with clinics in Edmond, Norman, northwest Oklahoma City, and the OU Health Sciences Center campus.

Contact and Appointment Information

Visit www.oklahomaallergy.com for clinic locations.
To schedule an appointment or request more information, call (405) 235-0040 or visit the website.

The post High Cedar Pollen Levels Return for the Seventh Time in Ten Days appeared first on Oklahoma Allergy and Asthma Clinic.

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