Asthma & Allergy Awareness
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Campbell County Medical Group Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine Clinic stands with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America this May during ‘National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month,’ as we work to educate patients, family, friends, co-workers, and others about these diseases.
Asthma Facts and Figures
Asthma causes swelling of the airways. This results in narrowing of the airways that carry air from the nose and mouth to the lungs. Allergens or irritating things entering the lungs trigger asthma symptoms. Symptoms include trouble breathing, wheezing, coughing and tightness in the chest. Asthma can be deadly.
There is no cure for asthma, but it can be managed with proper prevention of asthma attacks and treatment.
More Americans than ever before have asthma. It is one of this country’s most common and costly diseases.
How Common Is Asthma?
Approximately 25 million Americans have asthma. This equals to about 1 in 13 Americans, including 8 percent of adults and 7 percent of children.1
About 20 million U.S. adults age 18 and over have asthma. 1
Asthma is more common in adult women than adult men.1
It is the leading chronic disease in children. 2 Currently, there are about 5.1 million children under the age of 18 with asthma. 1
Asthma is more common in boys than girls.1
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). 2019 National Health Interview Survey data. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/nhis/2019/data.htm
Allergy Facts and Figures
An allergy is when your immune system reacts to a foreign substance, called an allergen. It could be something you eat, inhale into your lungs, inject into your body or touch. This reaction could cause coughing, sneezing, hives, rashes, itchy eyes, a runny nose and a scratchy throat. In severe cases, it can cause low blood pressure, breathing trouble, asthma attacks and even death.
There is no cure for allergies. You can manage allergies with prevention and treatment. More Americans than ever say they manage allergies. It is among the country’s most common, but overlooked, diseases.
How Common Are Allergies?
More than 50 million Americans have experienced various types of allergies each year.1
Allergies are the 6th leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S.1
How Many People Get Sick from Allergies?
Allergic conditions are one of the most common health issues affecting children in the U.S.1
In 2018, 7.7 percent of adults and 7.2 percent of children were diagnosed with hay fever.2
Each year in the U.S., it is estimated that anaphylaxis to food results in 30,000 emergency room visits.3
[1] American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. (2018). Allergy Facts. http://acaai.org/news/facts-statistics/allergies
[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). 2018 National Health Interview Survey data. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/allergies.htm
[3] FoodSafety.gov. (2020). Protect Yourself from Food Allergies. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/protect-yourself-food-allergies
If you or a loved one are suffering from Asthma or Allergies, help is available in Campbell County! Call the Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine Clinic today; 307-688-3615
Click HERE to learn more about Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month through the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
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