Center for Civic Partnerships

Asthma: Statistics, Information, Prevention and Self-Management

Asthma Statistics

According to the American Lung Association (ALA), in 1999 it was estimated that 24.7 million Americans have been diagnosed with asthma in their lifetime.
Close to 2 million emergency room visits were attributed to asthma in 1999
Asthma accounts for an estimated 3 million lost workdays annually for people over 18 years of age; the annual direct health care costs of asthma are approximately $8.1 billion; indirect costs (e.g., lost productivity) add another $4.6 billion, for a total of $12.7 billion of asthma associated costs.

Asthma Information

Asthma is a chronic condition that occurs when the air passages of the lungs, the bronchial tubes, become inflamed. The muscles of the bronchial walls tighten and extra mucus is produced, causing the airways to narrow. This can lead to an asthma attack, which is characterized as everything from minor wheezing to severe difficulty breathing, which can be life threatening.
People are more likely to develop asthma if they have an inherited predisposition to the condition and are sensitive to allergens or irritants in the environment.
Allergens in the environment include pollen, cockroach debris, molds, dust mites and animal dander. Some allergens cause asthma symptoms when swallowed; these include certain food additives, foods, preservatives and medicines.
Environmental irritants include first and second hand tobacco smoke, indoor/outdoor air pollutants, and exposure to cold air or sudden temperature change.
Additionally, exposure to occupational triggers such as chemicals used in farming, hairdressing, paint, steel, plastics and electronics manufacturing, increase the chances of developing asthma.

Strategies for Preventing Asthma Attacks

Encase mattresses and pillows in dustproof covers.
Wash sheets and blankets weekly in hot water.
Reduce indoor humidity with humidifiers or air conditioning.
Keep windows closed, and stay indoors during the midday and afternoon, when pollen and some mold spore counts are highest.
Fix leaky faucets, pipes, or other sources of water.
Keep all food and garbage in closed containers, and never in the bedroom.
Use vacuum cleaners with a HEPA filter or microfilter bags.
Keep animals outside, or at least out of the bedroom.
Do not smoke and avoid second-hand smoke.
When working around occupational triggers, wear the appropriate safety gear.
Monitoring breathing with a home peak flow meter can warn a patient to take medicines to stop an asthma attack before it starts.
Anti-inflammatory and bronchodilators are medications that, when used together can prevent asthma attacks by reducing airway inflammation, airway sensitivity and airway constriction.

Asthma Self-Management

Self-management requires the patient to form a partnership with his/her physician and follow an asthma management plan.
An asthma management plan is tailored to the patient’s needs and provides self-management tools including roles of medication, skills on using medications and peak flow meters, how to control asthma triggers and an asthma attack action plan.
A patient should work with his/her physician to design and review an asthma management plan because it allows the patient to voice concerns, determine convenient times for medication and peak flow testing, ask questions and provide details on what is or is not working.
Keeping daily symptom diaries and peak flow charts can also assist the physician in determining whether or not the management plan is appropriate

Online Resources and Tools

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
www.aaaai.org
Promotes and stimulates research and provides educational resources about asthma, for patients and professionals.

American Lung Association
www.lungusa.org
Focus is on preventing lung disease and promoting lung health through research, advocacy and education (some materials are available in Spanish).

American Medical Association
www.ama-assn.org
Provides information on health and medical practices for patients and physicians.

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
www.aafa.org
Provides practical information, community based services, support and referrals through a national network of chapters and educational support groups for asthma.