FOR OVER 200-THOUSAND NEW MEXICANS, AN INHALER MAY BE A REGULAR PART OF THEIR DAY. THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS RELEASED A STUDY ON ASTHMA IN THE STATE. ADAM RESNICK IS AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST WITH THE DEPARTMENT'S ASTHMA PROGRAM. HE SAYS THEY FOUND THE HIGHEST RATES OF EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS IN THE SOUTHEAST REGION OF THE STATE.
RESNICK SAYS ASTHMA IS AFFECTING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE. HE SAYS THERE'S BEEN AN INCREASE IN ASTHMA IN NEW MEXICO IN THE PAST 11 YEARS. RESNICK THINKS THAT'S DUE TO DOCTORS BEING MORE AWARE OF THE DISEASE AND HOW TO DIAGNOSE IT.
HE TELLS US THEY DON'T KNOW WHY IT AFFECTS THE SOUTHEAST PART OF THE STATE MORE THAN OTHER AREAS, BUT IT MAY BE LINKED TO THE HIGH RATES FOR OBESITY AND SMOKING IN THOSE COUNTIES.
