Southwest Montana News

In May, to mark National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, the DPHHS Talking Health in the 406 podcast is releasing two episodes featuring Billings resident Rachel Anderson. The episodes recount the story of her late daughter Mia's battle with asthma.

Rachel shares the personal journey of watching her daughter struggle with asthma for years before it claimed her life in 2020 at age 23. Through this series, she discusses the health challenges Mia faced and her commitment to raising awareness about asthma. After finding support through organ donation, Rachel is now focused on educating Montana families about this often overlooked disease.

“I’ve been looking for ways to be an advocate (for people with asthma),” Rachel said. “When people think of asthma, they don’t often think of it as a big deal, or that it can be life-threatening. My goal is to advocate and get the message out there about how serious it is. Even if I can help one person by sharing Mia’s story, then it’ll be worth it.”

DPHHS health officials note that many view asthma as a manageable childhood condition; however, at least seven Montanans die from asthma annually.

“Seven deaths may not seem like a lot, but any preventable death is one too many, especially for families who experience this tragedy,” said DPHHS Health Education Specialist Jennifer Van Syckle. “Watching a loved one struggle to breathe and waiting for improvement can be some of the most stressful moments in life. Asthma can be treated, attacks prevented, but in some cases it can be very difficult to control.”

Asthma affects lung function by narrowing airways and obstructing them with mucus. It can result from genetic factors or environmental exposures like secondhand smoke or work-related irritants. Symptoms vary widely among individuals.

In Montana alone, around 94,000 people live with asthma; over a third cannot recognize early warning signs of an attack and nearly half have limited activities due to their condition. An Asthma Control Test followed by consultation with healthcare providers is recommended for managing symptoms.

“Many people don’t recognize that being able to sit and take a breath is a gift in itself,” says DPHHS Asthma Control Program Manager BJ Biskupiak. “If you or someone you know has asthma, you know how scary it can be when you can't catch your breath. The first step is learning about asthma and how to manage it.”

The Montana Asthma Home Visiting Program offers resources for those seeking information on managing uncontrolled asthma through free education across all ages within nine sites covering 24 counties while providing virtual options statewide.