Getting The Facts About Asthma
About 23.2 million Americans have asthma. Asthma is the 7th most common chronic health problem in the US, and the 1st among children, according to the American Lung Association.
Asthma is the number one chronic health problem for kids. 9 million kids suffer from asthma. That's 12% of all asthma sufferers. It is the number one reason why kids stay home from school.
About 5,000 people a year die from asthma. Few of these are children. A large number are African American. About 500,000 hospitalizations each year are asthma-related. This brings the total cost of asthma-related health care to around $14.5 billion every year.
An asthma attack is when the smooth muscles that surround the bronchial tubes tighten. The tubes become swollen, narrowing the air passages. Asthma sufferers often feel during an attack that they can't catch their breath. It is a feeling similar to drowning.
Asthma is a respiratory disease and common symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, sneezing, nasal congestion when you don't have a cold, loss of sense of taste or smell and a feeling, continual sinus or ear infections, and a feeling of tightness in the chest.
Asthma symptoms are often mistaken for allergies. Actually, the two are closely related. There are two types of asthma, intrinsic and extrinsic. Extrinsic asthma is caused by external factors that trigger allergy symptoms. Intrinsic asthma is a breathing problem independent of environment.
If you experience any of the above symptoms, you should see a doctor immediately.
Asthma in the family increases your risk of having asthma. However, it is also caused by environmental factors. Airborne allergens such as dust, mold spores, tobacco smoke, animal dander, air pollution and pollen can cause asthma.
Two major risk factors for children are dust mites, tiny insects that live in dust, and exposure to tobacco smoke. Studies have shown that kids raised by smokers are twice as likely to develop asthma.
Most asthma sufferers use inhalers during asthma attacks. These contain steroids that help open the air passageways. Inhalers help asthma sufferers breathe when they have an attack.
A better way to prevent asthma trouble is to keep away from common asthma triggers. Keep the house clean and the humidity level low. Mold thrives in humid environments. Keeping the level of dust in your house down will help prevent attacks.
If someone in your family smokes, make sure they smoke outside. If you have a pet, keep it outside or in restricted areas of the house. Wash your hands carefully after petting them, and wear gloves if the pet allergy is serious.
An alarming number of asthma sufferers never seek the proper treatment. This could be because they don't take the symptoms seriously enough. If you experience trouble breathing, go to your doctor immediately so that you can start treatment. It is especially important if your child experiences asthma symptoms.
