 Asthma
Awareness
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by
inflammation of the airways, and increased responsiveness
to various stimuli commonly known as asthma triggers.
More than 14.6 million Americans suffer from asthma, which
is the sixth-ranking chronic condition in the United States.
Between 1982 and 1994, the rate per thousand persons who had
asthma rose from 34.8 to 56.1, an increase of 61.2%.
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Severe Asthma Attacks
An asthma attack may become so severe that
the person becomes breathless. As the attack continues, the
victim becomes less and less able to breathe, and may have
difficulty speaking in full sentences. The muscles in the
chest and neck may become tight. Lips and fingernails may
have a grayish or blue color. If this occurs, the following
steps should be followed:
1 - Asthma medicine should be taken immediately
2 - 911 should be called for emergency medical help
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Facts About Asthma
- 500,000 New Yorkers have asthma. 130,000 of them are children.
35,000 New Yorkers are hospitalized as a result of asthma
each year.
- Asthma usually occurs in episodes, but the underlying
pathology is chronic. Asthmatic episodes are a series of
events which result from the narrowing of a person’s
airway.
- Each of these changes contributes to a narrowing of the
airway tube resulting in a “wheeze” often heard
in people having an asthma attack.
- Asthma is characterized by excessive sensitivity of the
lungs to various stimuli. These triggers include: Colds
and respiratory infections; cigarette smoke; allergic reactions
to pollen, mold; animal dander, feathers, dust, food; stress.
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