Another important theme at this year's ATS meeting is the importance of assessing not only physical health but also psychological well-being. A study at Harvard Medical School found mothers' levels of stress can influence the fetus's development of immunity and increase sensitivity to allergen exposure and potential risk for future asthma.The team ...

When Jennifer Moyer Darr, LCSW, a social worker with the National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, Colo., asked one of her young clients suffering asthma to draw her illness, Darr was puzzled by the crayon markings on the page.A clown named Azma filled half the page, flashing his fangs and wearing a pink flower in his fedora hat. The ...