In Misurina, in the province of Belluno, an excellent facility for treating childhood asthma. It is news not specifically linked to the Coronavirus but which in any case has to do with the sphere of health. In particular, the health of the lungs, which are one of the main targets of the virus. L'Pius XII hospital it is found at Misurina, one of the most beautiful places in the Dolomites, in the province of Belluno and not far from Cortina d'Ampezzo. The health facility, which belongs to the Diocesan Opera of San Bernardo degli Uberti, is right in front of the lake, at 1756 meters of altitude. An affiliated diagnosis center that deals with the high-altitude treatment and rehabilitation of respiratory diseases in children and adolescents.
High mountains and innovative methods to learn how to heal the breath
Staying in this mountain microenvironment proved to be very effective for asthma patients, especially the youngest ones. We talk about recovery of respiratory function, reduction of allergic inflammation, improvement of disease control during hospitalization. The secret is the “good” air of these mountains, free of pollutants and allergens, less dense and less humid. These last two factors make the air lighter and facilitate breathing.
A center of excellence that only last year risked closure due to a drop in users. Not because the request was missing. On the contrary. Rather, they were some bureaucratic problems, linked to the agreement with the Veneto region, which made access difficult. So they had denounced the employee unions. The mobilization of workers and the subsequent commitment of the Region itself saved the structure, the only one of its kind in Italy and third in Europe. At the beginning of the year an agreement was also reached with the University of Verona to test the important results obtained.
A program that educates in the management of childhood asthma
“We are looking for - explains the Dr. Annaluisa Cogo, medical director of the institute and specialist in Pneumology - to extend the agreements to all of Italy. We currently have about ten guests, but the maximum number of requests comes above all in the summer. Last summer we reached 53/54 patients who, accompanied by a parent, practically filled the entire facility. We mainly deal with allergic asthma. Ours is a rehabilitation treatment that consists of breathing exercises through a program that educates in the management of the disease. This is also why the involvement of parents is important ".
In Italy there are other institutes for the treatment of asthma, but this one in Misurina is the one that is at the highest level, together, at European level, with those of Davos in Switzerland and Briancon in France. And it is precisely the altitude factor that makes the difference, in addition to personalized aerobic rehabilitation programs to “learn to heal the breath". These two factors combined are also the subject of the studies that are part of the agreement recently stipulated by Pius XII with the University of Verona. The Misurina model is a true excellence in the health field. An excellence of the breath. And this word inevitably brings us to the news of the Coronavirus which has the respiratory system among its main targets. “Unfortunately - concludes Dr. Cogo - we have no proof that the virus resists more or less at high altitudes. No scientific evidence at the moment can help us in this sense ".
