Asthma is a chronic lung disease in which airflow in and out of the
lungs may be blocked by muscle squeezing, swelling and excess mucus.
Patients with asthma may respond to factors in the environment, called
triggers, which do not affect non-asthmatics. In response to a trigger,
an asthmatic's airways become narrowed and inflamed, resulting in wheezing
and/or coughing symptoms.
Triggers that can bring on asthma are: allergens, irritants such as
tobacco smoke or strong odors, changes in weather, viral or sinus infections,
exercise, medications, food, emotional anxiety and reflux disease.
Even mild asthma can be life-threatening. However, by working with
your physician, you can learn to manage your asthma. The goal of asthma
treatment is to manage symptoms so they don't run your life.
Statistics:
20.3 million Americans report having asthma.
The prevalence of asthma increased 75% from 1980-1994.
From 1982-1996, the prevalence of asthma increased by 97 percent among
women, compared with 22 percent among men.
In 2001, 12 million people had experienced an asthma attack in the
previous year.
There are more than 5,000 deaths from asthma annually.
Asthma accounts for approximately 14.5 million missed work days for
adults annually.
New Research:
Asthma sufferers who regularly use inhaled corticosteroids and are
under the care of an allergy specialists are less likely to need emergency
hospital care for their disease (JACI Mar 2003; Michael Schatz, MD,
MS, FAAAAI, et. al).
Asthma treatment over the past decade is increasingly consistent with
current asthma guidelines, leading to improved asthma control (JACI
Apr 2003; Randall S. Stafford, MD, PhD, et. al).
In all patient groups, regardless of race, attitude is an imperative
determinant of poor adherence, and the importance of individualizing
educational information to patients with different social and cultural
backgrounds should be emphasized (JACI Jun 2003; Andrea Apter, MD, MSc,
et. al).
The hormone melatonin may be a factor in the worsening of nocturnal
asthma (JACI Sep 2003; E. Rand Sutherland, MD, MPH, et al).