{"id":6030,"date":"2013-05-02T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2013-05-02T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.dev\/?p=6030"},"modified":"2026-05-01T19:44:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T23:44:22","slug":"asthma-awareness-may-13","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.achooallergy.com\/blog\/asthma-awareness-may-13\/","title":{"rendered":"May is Asthma &#038; Allergy Awareness Month"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img src=\"http:\/\/www.achooallergy.com\/images\/home-air-purifiers-epa.jpg\" alt=\"EPA and Asthma Awareness Month - May\" style=\"float:right\">May is recognized as Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about asthma, allergies, and the many ways these conditions affect daily life. Even though more than 100 million people are affected by asthma and\/or allergies, many people still do not fully understand what it is like to live with these conditions. That is why the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) declares May to be \u201cNational Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Throughout the month, AAFA works to increase awareness about asthma and allergies through education, advocacy, and community involvement. AAFA invites individuals, families, schools, and communities to participate in 31 Days of Action. This year\u2019s theme focuses on debunking myths and misinformation about asthma and allergies, including what causes them, how they are treated, and how they impact people of all ages.<\/p>\n<p>AAFA offers many ways to take action during May or whenever your schedule allows. Their blog and social channels share Ask the Expert videos, free downloadable handouts, educational information, advocacy opportunities, and other helpful resources. Will you join AAFA for 31 Days of Action to help raise asthma and allergy awareness?<\/p>\n<p>Here are just a few ways to participate throughout the month:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>May 1: Ready! Set! Facts! Get connected to AAFA and share facts about asthma and allergies.<\/li>\n<li>May 1-5: Air Quality Awareness Week.<\/li>\n<li>May 2: World Asthma Day and Advocacy Day \u2013 Watch for an exciting announcement and ways you can take action!<\/li>\n<li>May 9: Local Advocacy Day! Asthma and allergies are greatly influenced by where someone lives. People who have affordable and accessible health care, clean air, and economic stability have a greater chance of managing and controlling their asthma. Watch AAFA\u2019s blog to learn how to contact your local elected officials about the challenges you are experiencing.<\/li>\n<li>May 10: Join their #AllergyReady Twitter chat with the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma &amp; Immunology (AAAAI) and David Stukus, MD, at 1 p.m. ET. Follow @AAFANational and @KFATweets.<\/li>\n<li>May 14-20: Food Allergy Awareness Week (FAAW) and National Eosinophil Awareness Week \u2013 Join their community and share food allergy facts and images. Learn more about eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), a type of food allergy, and eosinophilic asthma.<\/li>\n<li>May 18: Tune in for an Instagram Live with The Allergy Chef and KFA at 8 p.m. ET. AAFA\u2019s Kathy P. and Kathlena, The Allergy Chef, will be cooking food and answering questions about cooking free of food allergens on a budget.<\/li>\n<li>May 26: Honor the memories of people lost to asthma or allergy on Remembrance Day.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Don\u2019t forget to visit <a href=\"https:\/\/community.aafa.org\/blog\/take-action-to-raise-asthma-and-allergy-awareness\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AAFA&#8217;s Take Action: Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month Website<\/a> for additional information and resources.<\/p>\n<h3><b>Asthma and Allergy Facts to Share:<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>During May, you can help raise awareness about the impact of asthma and allergies by sharing helpful facts with others. Quick fact handouts, educational posts, and printable resources can make it easier for people to understand how serious these conditions can be. Sometimes seeing the facts clearly can help others better understand the impact asthma and allergies have on individuals, families, schools, workplaces, and communities.<\/p>\n<h3><b>Asthma Facts and Figures:<\/b><\/h3>\n<h4><b>What is Asthma?<\/b><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Asthma is a long-term disease that causes inflammation and swelling of the airways. This results in the narrowing of the airways that carry air from the nose and mouth to the lungs.<\/li>\n<li>Asthma symptoms include trouble breathing, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and tightness or pain in the chest.<\/li>\n<li>Asthma symptoms can be triggered by different things for different people. Allergens, like dust or pet dander, are common triggers. Some people also develop asthma symptoms in response to certain foods or exercise.<\/li>\n<li>Asthma can be deadly.<\/li>\n<li>There is no cure for asthma, but appropriate treatment prevents asthma attacks and can help you have a better quality of life.<\/li>\n<li>Asthma is one of the most common and costly diseases in the United States.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b>How Common is Asthma?<\/b><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Nearly 26 million people in the U.S. have asthma. This equals about 1 in 13 people.<\/li>\n<li>Nearly 21 million U.S. adults ages 18 and older have asthma.<\/li>\n<li>Asthma rates are highest in Black adults in the U.S.<\/li>\n<li>Asthma is more common in female adults than male adults. Around 9.7% of female adults have asthma, compared to 6.2% of male adults.<\/li>\n<li>It is a leading chronic disease in children. Currently, there are about 4.8 million children under the age of 18 with asthma.<\/li>\n<li>Non-Hispanic Black children are more than two times more likely to have asthma compared to non-Hispanic white children.<\/li>\n<li>Asthma is more common in male children than female children. Around 7.3% of male children have asthma, compared to 5.6% of female children.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b>What Are the Rates of Asthma Attacks in Children?<\/b><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>In 2020, 42.7% of children ages 18 and younger who had asthma reported having one or more asthma attacks in the past year.<\/li>\n<li>About 52.9% of children under the age of 5 with asthma had an attack.<\/li>\n<li>According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), asthma attacks in children have declined from 2001 through 2020. Even though asthma is controllable, it is estimated that 50% of children with asthma have uncontrolled asthma.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b>What Are the Rates of Asthma Attacks in Adults?<\/b><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>In 2020, 40.7% of adults ages 18 and older who had asthma reported having one or more asthma attacks in the past year.<\/li>\n<li>According to the CDC, asthma attacks in adults have declined from 2001 through 2020.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b>How Many People Seek Medical Care for Asthma?<\/b><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>In 2019, asthma accounted for 4.9 million doctors\u2019 office visits.<\/li>\n<li>In 2019, asthma accounted for 169,330 discharges from hospital inpatient care and 1.5 million emergency department visits.<\/li>\n<li>Black people in the U.S. are nearly six times more likely than white people in the U.S. to visit the emergency department due to asthma.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b>How Many People Die from Asthma?<\/b><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>On average, ten people in the U.S. die from asthma each day. In 2021, 3,517 people died from asthma. Nearly all these deaths are avoidable with the right treatment and care.<\/li>\n<li>In 2020, deaths due to asthma rose for the first time in 20 years.<\/li>\n<li>Adults are six times more likely to die from asthma than children.<\/li>\n<li>Female adults are more likely to die from asthma than male adults, and male children are as likely as female children.<\/li>\n<li>Black people in the U.S. are nearly three times more likely to die from asthma than white people in the U.S.<\/li>\n<li>When sex is factored in, Black females have the highest rate of fatality due to asthma. In 2021, Black females were more than three times more likely to die from asthma than white males.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b>What are the Costs of Asthma?<\/b><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>From 2008-2013, the annual economic cost of asthma was more than $81.9 billion, including medical costs and loss of work and school days:<\/li>\n<ul>\n<li>$3 billion in losses due to missed work and school days<\/li>\n<li>$29 billion due to asthma-related mortality<\/li>\n<li>$50.3 billion in medical costs<\/li>\n<li>Medical costs for people with asthma are estimated to be $3,266 higher per year, in 2015 U.S. dollars, compared to medical costs for people without asthma.<\/li>\n<li>Among children ages 5 to 17, asthma is one of the top causes of missed school days. In 2013, it accounted for more than 13.8 million missed school days.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b>Why Do Certain Racial or Ethnic Groups Have Higher Rates of Asthma, Asthma Attacks or Asthma Deaths?<\/b><\/h4>\n<p>AAFA\u2019s research report on Asthma Disparities in America explains that racial and ethnic differences in asthma frequency, illness, and death are caused by complex factors, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Structural determinants such as systemic racism, segregation, and discriminatory policies<\/li>\n<li>Social determinants such as socioeconomic status, education, neighborhood and physical environment, employment, social support networks, and access to health care<\/li>\n<li>Biological determinants such as genes and ancestry<\/li>\n<li>Behavioral determinants such as tobacco use and adherence to medicines<\/li>\n<li>Social determinants and structural inequities, including systemic racism, largely drive disparities in asthma. Factors such as genetics and individual behaviors contribute to fewer asthma disparities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b>Why Do Males and Females Have Different Rates of Asthma?<\/b><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Male children are more likely to have asthma than female children. This trend reverses in adulthood, where female adults are more likely to have asthma than male adults.<\/li>\n<li>Some studies suggest this trend reverses because of the effects of testosterone on lung cells. Testosterone, a male sex hormone, has been found to decrease the swelling of the airways in asthma.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also plays an important role in asthma awareness by providing educational resources that highlight the connection between air quality and respiratory health. Factors such as ground-level ozone, air pollution, indoor allergens, and environmental exposure can all contribute to asthma symptoms. This connection between the environment and asthma is one of the reasons the EPA continues to support Asthma Awareness Month through educational materials and public resources.<\/p>\n<p>For our part at AchooAllergy, we understand how challenging it can be to manage asthma and allergies, especially during peak allergy season. Creating a healthier indoor environment and staying informed about potential triggers can help reduce exposure and improve daily comfort. Even small steps toward improving indoor air quality can make a meaningful difference.<\/p>\n<p>To help support our customers during Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, we are offering a 10% discount on many asthma and allergy relief products. From window filters, allergy bedding and air purifiers to HEPA vacuum cleaners and nebulizers, save an extra 10% off most products. Happy May!<\/p>\n<p><i>Medical Review: April 2022 by Sarah Goff, MD, Ph.D., updated March 2023<\/i><\/p>\n<p><b>References:<\/b><\/p>\n<p>1. National Center for Health Statistics. (2022). <i>2021 NHIS Adult Summary Health Statistics.<\/i> U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https:\/\/data.cdc.gov\/d\/25m4-6qqq<\/p>\n<p>2. National Center for Health Statistics. (2022). <i>2021 NHIS Child Summary Health Statistics.<\/i> U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https:\/\/data.cdc.gov\/d\/wxz7-ekz9<\/p>\n<p>3. Ferrante, G., &amp; La Grutta, S. (2018). The Burden of Pediatric Asthma. <i>Frontiers in Pediatrics, 6.<\/i> https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fped.2018.00186<\/p>\n<p>4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). <i>2020 National Health Interview Survey Data.<\/i> U.S. Department of Health &amp; Human Services. https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/asthma\/nhis\/2020\/data.html<\/p>\n<p>5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). <i>Asthma Data Visualizations.<\/i> https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/asthma\/data-visualizations\/default.html<\/p>\n<p>6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). <i>AsthmaStats: Uncontrolled Asthma among Children, 2012\u20132014.<\/i> U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/asthma\/asthma_stats\/uncontrolled-asthma-children.html<\/p>\n<p>7. National Center for Health Statistics. (2022). <i>National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2019 National Summary Tables.<\/i> U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nchs\/data\/ahcd\/namcs_summary\/2019-namcs-web-tables-508.pdf<\/p>\n<p>8. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2023). Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project 2019 Healthcare Use Data. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/asthma\/national-surveillance-data\/healthcare-use.html<\/p>\n<p>9. National Center for Health Statistics. <i>National Vital Statistics System: Underlying Cause of Death 2018-2021.<\/i> The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https:\/\/wonder.cdc.gov\/ucd-icd10-expanded<\/p>\n<p>10. Nurmagambetov, T., Kuwahara, R., &amp; Garbe, P. (2018). <i>The Economic Burden of Asthma in the United States, 2008\u20132013.<\/i> Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 15(3), 348\u2013356. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1513\/annalsats.201703-259oc<\/p>\n<p>11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015). <i>Asthma-related Missed School Days among Children aged 5-17 years.<\/i> U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/asthma\/asthma_stats\/missing_days.html<\/p>\n<p>12. Fuseini, H., &amp; Newcomb, D. C. (2017). Mechanisms Driving Gender Differences in Asthma. <i>Current Allergy and Asthma Reports, 17(3)<\/i> www.doi.org\/10.1007\/s11882-017-0686-1<\/p>\n<p>_Author: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.achooallergy.com\/kevvyg.asp\">K. Gilmore<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>May is recognized as Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about asthma, allergies, and the many ways these conditions affect daily life. Even though more than 100 million people are affected by asthma and\/or allergies,&hellip; <\/p>\n<ul class=\"post-categories\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.achooallergy.com\/blog\/category\/news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">News<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[188],"tags":[199,206],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.achooallergy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6030"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.achooallergy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.achooallergy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.achooallergy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.achooallergy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6030"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.achooallergy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6030\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18903,"href":"https:\/\/www.achooallergy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6030\/revisions\/18903"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.achooallergy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6030"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.achooallergy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6030"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.achooallergy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6030"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}