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ASTHMA SWIMMING PROGRAM

Asthma is the leading cause of ER visits, hospital admissions, and school absenteeism among children, although it is the most preventable cause of hospitalization.

In 1996, Project HEALTH tackled Boston’s asthma epidemic by creating the Asthma Swimming Program. The program enables low-income children to assume control of their disease by:

  • studying the science underlying their asthma,
  • developing disease management strategies,
  • strengthening their lung capacity by swimming, and
  • compensating for missed school through intensive academic assistance.

In the 1997-98 and 1998-99 Asthma Swimming Program sessions participants demonstrated a mean improvement of 23% in peak flow (a measure of lung capacity), more than four times that of the newest asthma medications.

In addition, children experience a significant improvement in quality of life: according to pre- and post-tests, 92% report a decrease in at least one asthma-related symptom (coughing, missed school, or exercise-induced wheezing), and 50% indicate feeling less worried about their disease.

The program has received attention from: