Surveillance records released recently by Massachusetts health authorities showed an overwhelming link between hospitalization and underlying asthma – more so than other chronic illnesses like cardiac, kidney and endocrine disorders.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise. We know that the H1N1 virus likes to take up home in the lungs and so in children or adults whose pulmonary function is already compromised, it is necessary to be hypervigilant about treating them aggressively.

That’s why I urge all my asthmatics or COPDers to get vaccinated against H1N1. If you haven’t yet received your vaccination, talk to your health care provider about it. The flu season is not over yet.