ASTHMA FACT SHEET

The Problem
Asthma currently affects 17.3 million Americans, and the incidence is rising. Other facts to consider:

• It is the most common chronic disease of childhood, affecting 7.4% of children ages 5-14 and 5.3 million children under 18.
  
• Asthma prevalence in children under age five (as reported by a family member) was estimated at 5.8% in 1994, a 160% increase since 1980.
  
• In 1994, 5.8% of Americans reported having asthma, a 75% increase since 1980.
  
• There are more than 5,600 asthma deaths reported each year and over one million hospitalizations annually.
  
• In 1995, there were 1.9 million emergency room visits for asthma related complications.
  
• Health care costs are estimated at more than $7.5 billion annually, with another $1 billion in lost productivity.
  
• Asthma results in 100 million days of restricted activity and more than 10 million missed school days each year.
  
  

Asthma Defined
Asthma is defined as a breathing disease that makes it difficult to move air into and out of the lungs. When you have trouble breathing because of asthma, the problem is in the airways of your lungs. The air you breathe may make a wheezing or whistling sound, and you may cough and spit up mucus.

The airways become narrow because:

• The muscles around them tighten
  
• Their inner linings swell Extra mucus clogs smaller airways
  
• Breathing gets harder as you try to force air through the narrow airways.

Causes of Asthma
Although we are aware of several contributing factors for the causes of asthma, not all causes can be explained. Asthma is most likely a result of genetic factors. About one third of all persons with asthma share the problem with another member of their immediate family. A child is six times more likely to have asthma if both parents have a history of asthma. Allergens, upper respiratory infections and some drugs, such as aspirin, may cause an attack.

"Triggers" To Avoid:

• Dusting with a dry rag, draperies, carpets and dirty filters in your furnace or air conditioner
  
• Pollution; smoke-filled rooms, high ozone levels and traffic jams
  
• Emotions; fear and anger, crying or laughing too hard
  
• Household products; aerosol sprays from hair spray and perfumes, vapors from cooking, cleaning solutions and paint
  
• Smoke; from cigarettes, pipes or cigars, wood-burning stoves or fireplaces and charcoal cooking
  
• Infections; colds, upper airway congestion, sinus drainage and sore throat Allergies; animals such as dogs, cats, birds and hamsters, insects such as cockroaches and dust mites, foods and pollens