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New York Monthly Herald. June 2006 Issue P. 13                                                                                    

HEALTH IN NEW YORK CITY

21 DAYS INTO NICOTINE PATCH GIVEAWAY FEWER THAN 8,000 PATCHES REMAIN

 Free Nicotine Patch Kits Available

Patch Recipient Says, "If the Patch Worked for Me, It Can Work for Almost Anyone!"

NEW YORK CITY-With nearly 80% of nicotine patches gone, the City's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) encourages New Yorkers who want to quit to call 3-1-1 today. Three weeks into its nicotine patch giveaway, more than 27,000 patch kits have been distributed to smokers in all five boroughs. Men continue to be underrepresented even though they comprise 57% of heavy smokers. Luis Cheeseborough, a 56-year-old school teacher from Brooklyn, and a recipient of nicotine patches through the 2005 giveaway said, "As a school teacher, with children constantly telling me they were worried about my health, I wanted to quit smoking.  But I didn't think I could.  I wanted to stop and didn't know how. I heard about the 311 program and called.  After using the patches for a couple of weeks, I didn't have the urge to smoke anymore.  I haven't smoked for more than a year.  Other smokers should call 311.  If the patch worked for me, it can work for almost anyone."

Who's Been Getting the Patch So Far

Young adults (ages 18-24), who make up 10% of the City's heavy smokers, continue to represent 6% of calls.  Most patches continue to go to New Yorkers ages 45-64 (44%) and 25-44 (43%).  Although men comprise of 57% of the City's heavy smokers, they represent just under half (48%) of all callers. Most patches (42%) have been distributed to whites, followed by African-Americans (28%), Hispanics (24%) and Asian/Pacific Islanders (3%). For the most part, this still mirrors the distribution of the City's heaviest smokers, with the exception of Asians, who make up 9% of the City's heavy smokers. Most patches have been distributed to Brooklyn residents (29%) followed by Queens (26%), Bronx (19%), Manhattan (15%) and Staten Island (11%). "The positive response to this initiative shows that people want to stop smoking and be healthier," said Dr. Frieden.  "However, men and young adults who comprise a large percentage of heavy smokers in the city are not adequately taking advantage of this opportunity.  I urge men and young adults, and anyone who wants to quit smoking to call 311 now while supplies last." For information about how to quit smoking, call 3-1-1 or log on to nyc.gov/health. CONTACT: (212) 788-5290; (212) 788-3058 (After Hours). Sandra Mullin (smullin@health.nyc.gov); Joyce Hernández López (jlopez@health.nyc.gov). The New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene is now offering information important for the health of all New Yorkers.  To sign up for these new and valuable updates, log-on to our website at
http://www.nyc.gov/health/email and select the NYC DOHMH updates you'd like to receive.



 

IN NEW YORK, ASTHMA AND ALLERGIES HAVE NEARLY DOUBLED IN THE PAST WEEK

 NY’ers with Frequent Asthma Should Talk to their Doctor about Inhaled Medicine to Prevent Asthma Attacks

NEW YORK CITY-The number of New Yorkers experiencing allergy and asthma symptoms over the past week has more than doubled, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) announced today. DOHMH's daily monitoring of hospital emergency department showed an increase from 250 emergency department visits per day for asthma symptoms during the first three weeks of April to an average of 500 visits per day for the past several days. Additionally, sales of over-the-counter allergy medications increased more than two-fold over the past two weeks. This pattern is observed annually and marks the beginning of Spring allergy season. “New Yorkers who suffer from asthma may experience worsened symptoms during allergy season,” said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Frieden. “New Yorkers with asthma should talk to their doctor about avoiding asthma triggers, developing and following an asthma action plan, and taking asthma control medications as prescribed. Proper asthma management can prevent severe asthma episodes, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations.”

Recommendations for New Yorkers to “K.I.C.K. Asthma:”

  • • K now what worsens your asthma and avoid these triggers

  • • I nform your doctor if you have frequent asthma symptoms (more than two days per week, or nighttime symptoms more than two nights per month).

  • • C ontrol frequent symptoms by using long-term control asthma medicines. Inhaled corticosteroids are the most effective for most people with persistent asthma.

  • • K eep regular doctor's visits, and ask your doctor for a written Asthma Action Plan.

DOHMH is Working to Control Asthma in NYC

DOHMH works closely with schools, early childhood organizations, health care organizations, doctors and community partners to improve and encourage asthma care and self-management. DOHMH convenes the New York City Asthma Partnership , a coalition of more than 300 individuals and organizations working collectively to address asthma citywide. Additionally, DOHMH operates several programs and initiatives including: The Asthma Care Coordinator Project, which connects children who visit emergency rooms, and those who are hospitalized with services including asthma specialty care, primary care, medication assistance, asthma education, and home environmental assessment and remediation services. The East and Central Harlem District Public Health Office, which coordinates community-wide asthma planning and services for people living in East and Central Harlem ; Managing Asthma in Schools, a comprehensive program operated jointly with the Department of Education to improve coordination of care for children with asthma in more than 800 public elementary schools; Open Airways for Schools Program: A collaborative project with the American Lung Association, and public and private elementary schools, which provides asthma self-management education to over 3,000 children with asthma in NYC elementary schools. The Asthma Daycare Project which supports the enhancement of health tracking and coordination of care for children with asthma daycare, Head Start, and pre-Kindergarten programs; and The Community Integrated Pest Management Program which provides remediation services and educates community partners about how to eliminate pests, including cockroaches and mice, in low-income apartments where people with asthma reside. Asthma Training Institute- Provides asthma education and training to community health educators, health care providers, social workers, and staff of several city agencies.

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