Miles Weinberger, M.D., treats many children with asthma each year. Weinberger believes a majority of asthma patients could avoid trips to the emergency room if they followed some simple guidelines he’s developed.

"The vast majority of these hospitalizations and urgent care visits are preventable if the asthma is recognized, adequately evaluated, and the measures to deal with it are provided to the family," he says.

Jamel Forehand of Waterloo is one boy who has benefited from this approach to treating asthma. Jamel was diagnosed with asthma two years ago, following several hospitalizations. Now, he and his family manage the asthma effectively at home, and Jamel’s trips to University of Iowa Children's Hospital are for routine checkups like this one, and not asthma attacks.

"Children with asthma should be able to lead completely normal lives. They shouldn’t have to be going to the emergency room. They shouldn’t have to be hospitalized. They should be able to go to school, and they should be able to take part in all physical activity, including competitive athletics, if they’re so inclined," Weinberger says.

Weinberger says asthma is often misdiagnosed at an early age, which leads to unnecessary doctor visits. He believes carefully determining what is needed, and teaching patients and families how to manage asthma, will allow more children like Jamel to live happier, healthier lives.

For more information, or to schedule a consultation with University of Iowa Health Care’s pediatric asthma specialists, call 319-356-1828.