Asthma Facts
With an increase in airborne pollutants, the number of Americans suffering from asthma is on the rise. In fact, 26 million Americans currently have asthma and of that number, 18.9 million are adults and 7.1 million are children. Understanding asthma and it’s affects on every day life can help us better understand how to mange the condition and improve quality of life. Below, are several asthma facts you about asthma to help shed some light on this debilitating conditions:
- Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the lung airways that causes coughing, chest tightness, wheezing or shortness of breath.
- Asthma prevalence is higher in children (9.4 percent) than in adults (7.7 percent), and higher in females (9.2 percent) than males (7.0 percent).
- Patients with asthma reported 14.2 million visits to a doctor’s office and 1.3 million visits to hospital outpatient departments.
- Asthma results in 439,000 hospitalizations and 1.8 million emergency room visits annually.
- Asthma is the most common chronic illness in childhood, accounting for 13.8 million missed school days each year. It also accounts for 14.2 million lost work days for adults.
- The estimated economic cost of asthma is $56 billion annually.
- Almost 3,600 people die of asthma each year, nearly half of whom are age 65 or older. Recent statistics show that half of the people with asthma have at least one asthma attack each year, with children (57 %) more likely to have an attack than adults (51 %).
- Asthma symptoms can be triggered by exposure to an allergen (such as ragweed, pollen, animal dander or dust mites), irritants in the air (such as smoke, chemical fumes or strong odors) or extreme weather conditions. Exercise or an illness – particularly a respiratory illness or the flu – can also make you more susceptible.
- Asthma is often hereditary.
- Weather conditions such as extremely dry, wet or windy weather can worsen an asthma condition.
If you or a loved one are suffering form allergic rhinitis, please contact our office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Sebastian Lighvani today.
Sources
1. Asthma Facts: CDC’S National Asthma Control Program Grantees (CDC)
2. FastStats – Asthma (CDC)
3. AsthmaStats – Asthma-related Missed School Days among Children aged 5-17 Years (CDC)
4. Asthma Management and the Allergist: Better Outcomes at Lower Cost (ACAAI)
