What is Puff City?
Puff City is a mobile asthma program for teenagers just like you. The goal is to help teens better manage their asthma.
What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic disease that affects your airways. Airways are the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs.
Asthma can make you feel short of breath, tight in your chest, or cause you to wheeze. If an asthma episode is severe, a person may need emergency treatment to get back to normal breathing.
During an asthma attack…
- Airways become swollen and inflamed
- Muscles tighten around airways
- Mucous forms in airways
What is the History of Puff City?
In 2001, the Puff City program began enrolling teenagers in Detroit public high schools, 15-19 years of age. After its positive response in schools, Puff City expanded to emergency departments and outpatient clinics. Participants are from all different ethnicities and range from ages 13-19 years old.
Students who received the program experienced:
- A 50% reduction in ER visits due to asthma
- A 50% reduction in hospitalization visits
- A 60% reduction in school days missed due to asthma
- A 36% reduction in nights awakened due to asthma symptoms
Why should I participate?
Participating in Puff City may help you learn more about your asthma and how to manage your asthma symptoms better so you can:
- Be more active and perform better in school or sports.
- Have fewer emergency department visits and hospitalizations.
- Feel healthier and more confident.
Who do I contact for help with Puff City?
For help using Puff City, call 313-874-4640.
Who developed Puff City?
Puff City was developed by Henry Ford Hospital in collaboration with the University of Michigan.