11 Facts About Asthma

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1. Asthma is a chronic disease that affects airways in lungs. During asthma attacks, patients can experience wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, or tightness and pain in the chest.^["Asthma In-Depth Report." NYTimes. http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/asthma/print.html (accessed August 1, 2014).]
2. Asthmatic attacks can be triggered by allergens, exercise, smoke, pollution, or airway infections.^["Asthma In-Depth Report." NYTimes. http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/asthma/print.html (accessed August 1, 2014).]
3. Smoking is known to trigger asthmatic attacks. Make handmade cards to encourage your loved ones to quit smoking. Sign up for Quitters Always Win.^["Asthma’s Impact on the Nation." CDC. http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/impacts_nation/asthmafactsheet.pdf (accessed August 1, 2014).]
4. As of 2012, more than 18 million adults and 6 million children suffered from asthma.^[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Faststats: Asthma ." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/asthma.htm (accessed August 1, 2014).]
5. In the last decade, the number of people with asthma increased by 15%.^["Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America - Information About Asthma, Allergies, Food Allergies and More!." Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America - Information About Asthma, Allergies, Food Allergies and More!. http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=10&sub=42 (accessed August 1, 2014).]
6. Asthma costs the country more than $50 billion every year in health care costs.^["The Impact of Asthma | AAFRP." The Impact of Asthma | AAFRP. http://www.americanasthmafoundation.org/impact-asthma (accessed August 1, 2014).]
7. In children, boys are more likely to develop asthma than girls, but in adults, women are more likely than men.^[S. National Library of Medicine. "Chronic Diseases: Asthma and You | NIH MedlinePlus the Magazine." U.S National Library of Medicine. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/fall11/articles/fall11pg5-7.html (accessed August 1, 2014).]
8. Hispanics may have an elevated risk for exposure to air pollution since a disproportionate number (80%) live in areas that fail to meet one or more national standards for air pollution.^[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Faststats: Asthma ." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/asthma.htm (accessed August 1, 2014).]
9. Asthma is the cause for children missing more than 10 million school days a year.^[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Faststats: Asthma ." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/asthma.htm (accessed August 1, 2014).]
10. College-age adults (ages 18 to 24) are more likely to develop asthma than older adults.^["Asthma’s Impact on the Nation." CDC. http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/impacts_nation/asthmafactsheet.pdf (accessed August 1, 2014).]
11. African-Americans are 2 to 3 times more likely than any other racial group to die from asthma, but roughly 25% of black adults with asthma cannot afford regular doctor’s visits.^[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Faststats: Asthma ." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/asthma.htm (accessed August 1, 2014).]