Asthma is a chronic disease characterized by inflammation of the airways in the lungs. Asthma sufferers can experience intermittent flare ups of asthma symptoms, or asthma attacks, where the airways to the lungs become very inflamed and swollen and the muscles surrounding the airways tighten, constricting airflow into and out of the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. Symptoms of an asthma attack include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Although there is no cure for asthma, it can be effectively managed with proper treatment.
Asthma is one of the most common chronic illnesses in America. In fact, an estimated 25.7 million people are afflicted with the condition. That works out to 1 in 11 children and 1 in 12 adults living with asthma in the United States. Asthma accounts for 1.9 million emergency room visits and 480,000 inpatient admissions every year and is the third leading cause of hospitalization in children under the age of fifteen. School age children miss 13.8 million school days a year due to asthma and asthma related medical costs are estimated to be $56 billion annually. Every year, over 3,000 people die from asthma related causes.
The large number of people afflicted with asthma and the high costs of treating it are major reasons why treatment and control methods are vital to helping asthmatics. If you are interested in learning more about how to control and treat your asthma, check out the links below for more information.
Asthma is a chronic disease characterized by inflammation of the airways in the lungs. Although there is no cure for asthma, it can be effectively managed with proper treatment. Here are 5 things you need to know about asthma and how it is treated.
American Lung Association Asthma
Facts about asthma from the American Lung Association. Includes information on diagnosing and treating asthma as well as asthma symptoms and risk factors and how to manage your asthma.
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute Asthma Treatment
Information on how asthma is treated and controlled from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. This site also includes links to information on prevention, diagnosis, symptoms, risk factors, and living with asthma.