Asthma is a disease of the immune system. The immune system is an exceedingly complicated set of organs, tissues, and fluids, which, together, protect the body from outside invaders, such as bacteria and viruses. The immune system also protects against internal threats, such as cells that go haywire and start multiplying uncontrollably (i.e., cancer).
In an asthmatic, the immune system overreacts to the presence of an external agent and ends up doing more harm than good. The bronchial tubes (which connect the throat to the lungs) become inflamed, produce excessive mucous, and also may constrict by muscular spasm. As a result, the person feels like he or she is drowning for lack of air, which is in fact the case. It is a nasty, debilitating disease.
April 24, 1998
More Americans than ever before say they are suffering with asthma. According to a report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 15 million people have the chronic lung condition that leaves them gasping for breath, up from 13.7 million in 1994. The increase in asthma cases and deaths affects all ages, spans across all racial groups and occurs throughout the US. However, higher rates of hospitalization and emergency room visits were reported in the northeast; and blacks reported higher rates of emergency visits, hospitalization and deaths.
CDC researchers also found that the overall picture of asthma is changing, and today’s report recommends a comprehensive national monitoring system to identify these emerging trends on a state-by-state basis, especially to understand why some areas have lower rates of emergency room visits and hospitalization.
"Asthma is a complicated illness that adults and children live with daily. To prevent asthma, we need a better understanding to unravel the mysteries of why some people develop it and others do not", said Claire V. Broome, M.D., Acting Director of CDC. "Promoting healthy home environments and sharing proven prevention strategies with health care providers to define the problems and causes are key steps towards prevention of this serious illness".
Rates increased 75% between 1980 and 1994. This increase was evident across all races; both sexes; and all age groups. Self-reported rates were 50.8 per 1,000 among whites and, and 57.8 per 1,000 among blacks.
The number of doctor’s office visits to treat asthma more than doubled between 1975 and 1995.
These increases were evident in all groups of races, both sexes, and all age groups.
In 1995 there were more than 1.8 million emergency room visits made for asthma. The rate was 48.8 per 10,000 among whites and 228.9 per 10,000 among blacks.
Between 1979 and 1994, hospitalization rates were highest for those from birth to 4 years old and lowest among persons 15-34. Among whites, hospitalization rates were 10.9 per 10,000 and among blacks the rate was 35.5 per 10,000 visits.
Asthma-related deaths vary substantially by age group with the highest rates appearing in the elderly. Deaths due to asthma as the underlying cause were 15.1 per million among whites, and 38.5 per million among blacks.
Avoid asthma triggers. For many sufferers, that means reducing exposure to dust and pollen. The American Lung Association recommends tight building shells, energy recovery ventilation systems and dehumidifiers. This combination can:
The World Health Organization claims the human and economic burden associated with asthma surpasses that of AIDS and tuberculosis combined. According to the organization, the incidence of asthma is rising by 50 percent every decade. Some 100 million to 150 million people around the world suffer from asthma and an estimated 180,000 people die from it every year. Direct and indirect annual costs related to asthma total $6 billion in the U.S. and $1.8 billion in the United Kingdom, and developing countries are also feeling its impact. Although the cause of rising asthma rates is unknown, experts point to urbanization, exposure to indoor allergens during infancy and a family history of asthma as major factors.