Study Uses GPS To Help Asthma Patients
GPS Helps Pinpoint Environmental Triggers
Updated: 9:15 pm CDT April 16, 2009
MADISON, Wis. -- University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers said they're hoping that navigational GPS technology can help ease the suffering of asthmatics in a new medical study.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportAllergies and asthma are major problems for some people in the spring, but UW-Madison researchers are using GPS technology to study the environmental effects on asthma.Study participant Ron Rassner said that living near rural Mount Vernon can be difficult for him in the spring."As an asthmatic you have to be quite careful. It can be dangerous," Rassner said. "I have I guess what you'd call seasonal allergies, so by the time the flowers are leafed out the leaves are leafed out on the trees, I have asthma."With the help of the UW-Madison asthma study, Rassner and others with asthma are learning more about what triggers their symptoms with GPS navigation."Really for the first time were seeing when and where patients are where they're developing a wheeze and cough or a shortness of breath that might suggest they've been exposed to something that's triggering their asthma," said David Van Sickle, of the UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health.In the study, the GPS device attaches to a regular albuterol inhaler and tracks the frequency and location of every inhaler use."How often someone uses this medication is a good predictor of how well the disease is being managed," Van Sickle said.Researchers said knowing the origin of these triggers can help identify new allergens."Asthma is unique in that people carry around this inhaler and use it often at the time and place that they have exposure that causes symptoms," Van Sickle said.For seasonal asthma sufferers like Rassner, the GPS study could mean a step toward knowing more about his illness."I've been a lifelong asthmatic and anything I can do to kind of help understand what we go through makes sense to me," Rassner said.Researchers are still looking for participants in the asthma study. People who are interested can call 608-261-1036 or e-mail asthmap@mailplus.wisc.edu for more information.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportAllergies and asthma are major problems for some people in the spring, but UW-Madison researchers are using GPS technology to study the environmental effects on asthma.Study participant Ron Rassner said that living near rural Mount Vernon can be difficult for him in the spring."As an asthmatic you have to be quite careful. It can be dangerous," Rassner said. "I have I guess what you'd call seasonal allergies, so by the time the flowers are leafed out the leaves are leafed out on the trees, I have asthma."With the help of the UW-Madison asthma study, Rassner and others with asthma are learning more about what triggers their symptoms with GPS navigation."Really for the first time were seeing when and where patients are where they're developing a wheeze and cough or a shortness of breath that might suggest they've been exposed to something that's triggering their asthma," said David Van Sickle, of the UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health.In the study, the GPS device attaches to a regular albuterol inhaler and tracks the frequency and location of every inhaler use."How often someone uses this medication is a good predictor of how well the disease is being managed," Van Sickle said.Researchers said knowing the origin of these triggers can help identify new allergens."Asthma is unique in that people carry around this inhaler and use it often at the time and place that they have exposure that causes symptoms," Van Sickle said.For seasonal asthma sufferers like Rassner, the GPS study could mean a step toward knowing more about his illness."I've been a lifelong asthmatic and anything I can do to kind of help understand what we go through makes sense to me," Rassner said.Researchers are still looking for participants in the asthma study. People who are interested can call 608-261-1036 or e-mail asthmap@mailplus.wisc.edu for more information. Copyright 2009 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
