Better treatment is imminent for Louisiana asthmatics, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals a $1.75 million grant for fighting asthma Sept. 29.The DHH will use the grant money for developing comprehensive asthma programs and increasing statewide public awareness, said Mark Perry, Louisiana Asthma Management and Prevention acting program manager.Perry said the overall goals of the project are to develop uniformed diagnosis and treatment methods across the state, increase education and update guidelines and techniques as new treatment becomes available.”We’ve been doing extensive research for two years,” he said. “We plan to do what other states have found successful.”Asthma is the No. 1 national cause for missed school and work, Perry said. He said the department is trying to decrease hospitalization and emergency room visits, which cost the state $42 million in Medicaid’s asthma related coverage in 2007. “If we put in place the right programs to assist health care providers and educate patients to self-manage their illness, we will see a decrease in hospitalization and emergency room visits – decreasing state costs,” he said.Perry said the state ranks in the top 25 percent of the nation for asthma deaths. In addition, one in 10 households has at least one child with asthma, he said.Louisiana had 203,641 self-reported adult asthma cases as of 2007, making up 6.3 percent of the population, according to the CDC. Comparatively, Mississippi had 144,009 cases – 6.6 percent of the population – and Texas had 1,396,996, 8.2 percent of the population. Louisiana’s high humidity levels, agricultural areas and industrial plants contribute to a poor air quality, making living in the state difficult for asthmatics, Perry said. The Baton Rouge area is also of major concern because of its unique make-up of industrial, urban and agricultural features, he said.Barry Dellinger, chemistry professor, said one of the main causes of poor air quality nationwide is traffic flow and emissions from idling cars.  ”Since Baton Rouge has poorer roads and traffic flow, the emissions per mile is extremely high, making it difficult to get cleaner air,” he said.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency does not have specific regulations for certain chemicals, and finding detailed data on their Web site is difficult because of the random postings of information, Dellinger said.The Louisiana DHH received the grant because of its recognition by the CDC for its progress in advancing its asthma program – made without funding — the last two years, Perry said.”We want to create an asthma program that is congruent, precise and comprehensive [statewide] to eliminate the burden of living with asthma in Louisiana,” He said. “We’ve done so much without funding; it’s exciting to think what we can do with the grant.”- – – -Contact Steven Powell at [email protected]