As For More Uncommon Allergies Facts Reveal That Some People Are Allergic To Water
This extremely rare condition is called aquagenic urticaria. People who are allergic to water will break out in itchy hives all of a suddenusually after jumping into a pool or lake, or simply having a shower, based on allergy facts. However, researchers dont really have a clear explanation of what triggers this, but its believed that some specific substances present in the water are to blame.
Do Men Or Women Have Higher Rates Of Asthma
- Women are more likely to have asthma than men. 9.8 percent of women have asthma, compared to 6.1 percent of men.1
- Women are more likely to die from asthma than men.7
- Boys are more likely to have asthma than girls. 8.4 percent of boys have asthma, compared to 5.5 percent of girls.1
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. . 2019 National Health Interview Survey data. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Retrieved from:
Ferrante, G., & La Grutta, S. . The Burden of Pediatric Asthma. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 6.
Zahran, H., Bailey, C., Damon, S., Garbe, P. and Breysse, P. . Vital signs: Asthma in children United States, 20012016. .
National Center for Health Statistics. . National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey . U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from:
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. . Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project . U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from:
Asthma Research
Asthma In Massachusetts Is Costly
- The total charges for hospitalization due to asthma in Massachusetts increased 82.5% from $57 million in 2002 to $104 million in 2013.
- In 2013, public insurance was the expected payer for 66.61% of hospitalizations due to asthma.
Figure 2. Total Charges for Hospitalizations Due to Asthma, Massachusetts Residents, 2002-2013
Disparities Exist in Hospitalizations, Emergency Department Visits, and Outpatient Observation Stays by age, gender and race/ethnicity.
- Adults ages 65 years and older had the 2nd highest rate of hospitalization due to asthma, but had the lowest rates of emergency department visits and outpatient observation stays due to asthma.
- From 2002 through 2013, Black, non-Hispanics and Hispanics consistently had significantly higher age-adjusted rates of hospitalization due to asthma than White, non-Hispanics. Children ages 0-4 years had the highest rates of emergency department visits, outpatient observation stays, and hospitalization due to asthma
Figure 3 Age-Specific Rates of Emergency Department Visits Due to Asthma, Massachusetts Residents, 2009-2013
For more information about Massachusetts asthma statistics, please contact .
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Signs Symptoms And Complications
How often signs and symptoms of asthma occur may depend on how severe, or intense, the asthma is and whether you are exposed to allergens. Some people have symptoms every day, while others have symptoms only a few days of the year. For some people, asthma may cause discomfort but does not interfere with daily activities. If you have more severe asthma, however, your asthma may limit what you are able to do.
When asthma is well controlled, a person shows few symptoms. When symptoms worsen, a person can have what is called an asthma attack, or an exacerbation. Over time, uncontrolled asthma can damage the airways in the lungs.
Exposure To Tobacco Smoke Among Those Diagnosed With Asthma
The negative health effects of tobacco smoke are well established.Footnote 3 For those with asthma, exposure to tobacco smoke, either directly or indirectly, can provoke or exacerbate an asthmatic condition . Smoking cessation or elimination of second hand smoke exposure among those who have asthma can lead to better controlled asthma. The SLCDC found that among those who have asthma:
- 14.7% reported that they were current smokers .
- 26.2% reported that they were former smokers.
- 22.6% indicated members of their household smoke.
- Of those who indicated that a household member smokes, 37.5% indicated a doctor or other health professional suggested that other members of their household quit or cut down smoking to help control their asthma.
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Diagnosing Asthma In Children Younger Than 6
It can be hard to tell whether a child under age 6 has asthma or another respiratory condition, because young children often cannot perform a pulmonary function test such as spirometry. After checking a childs history and symptoms, the doctor may try asthma medicines for a few months to see how well a child responds. About 40% of children who wheeze when they get colds or respiratory infections are eventually diagnosed with asthma.
How Can I Create A Safer Environment For My Family
There are many ways to make your home more asthma- and allergy-friendly.
1. Avoid smoking around children and inside homes and cars. Chose a smoking jacket or other clothing used when smoking that you can remove before coming into contact with children. Also, refrain from using strong chemical-containing cleaning supplies or fragrances.
2. Chose pets without fur or feathers. If you have pets, wash them weekly and avoid having them on furniture, beds, and toys.
3. Dust often with a wet cloth and keep children away from the area as you dust. Wash bedspreads and linens once a week. If possible, buy dust-mite impermeable covers for mattresses and pillows.
4. To avoid pests, such as mice and cockroaches, dont leave food or crumbs laying out. Contact pest control if you have pests in your home.
5. Many foods can cause allergies, rashes, and asthma attacks. These include milk products, eggs, peanuts, peas, beans, nuts, chocolate, shellfish, and food additives, such as those in dried apricots or red wines. If there is a possible food allergy, refrain from eating those foods and contact your doctor right away.
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Myth: Asthma Is Just In Your Head
Asthma symptoms have been linked to anxiety and depression, but asthma isnt a psychological condition.
Asthma is the result of chronic inflammation in the lungs, which results in swelling and narrowing of the airway. This inflammation can be caused by many different factors, including genetics and exposure to factors like allergens and pollution in your environment.
Common triggers for asthma and asthma attacks include:
- upper respiratory tract infections
- pollution
Asthma is often thought of as a childhood disease that you outgrow as you get older.
Its true that asthma is common in children. In the United States, approximately 5.5 million people under age 18 have asthma.
Asthma attacks are also more common in kids. Almost 54 percent of children experience one or more asthma attacks per year, compared with 43 percent of adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
But asthma usually doesnt truly go away. Though your symptoms may change or become less frequent over time, the condition remains.
Asthma may mean you have a genetic susceptibility to hyperreactivity in the lungs or damage to airway cells resulting from chronic inflammation.
Research from 2020 suggests that in children with severe asthma, the severity of disease may decrease over time.
Asthma can also develop in adults who never experienced symptoms as a child. Common triggers of adult-onset asthma include:
- allergies
- sore throat
- oral thrush
- nosebleeds
How Common Is Asthma In Minnesota
- Approximately one in 12 children 1and one in 12 adults 2 currently have asthma, adding up to around 582,100 Minnesotans who have asthma.3
- In 2018, there were 17,619 emergency department visits and 1,864 hospitalizations for asthma across Minnesota.2
- In 2018, there were 58 deaths due to asthma in Minnesota.
- 47% of those who died were age 65 or older when they died.
- 21% of those who died were 85 or older when they died.
- There were 10 deaths among residents under age 35.3
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Why Are Respiratory Diseases Important
Currently more than 25 million people6,7 in the United States have asthma. Approximately 14.8 million adults have been diagnosed with COPD, and approximately 12 million people have not yet been diagnosed.8 The burden of respiratory diseases affects individuals and their families, schools, workplaces, neighborhoods, cities, and states. Because of the cost to the health care system, the burden of respiratory diseases also falls on society it is paid for with tax dollars, higher health insurance rates, and lost productivity. Annual health care expenditures for asthma alone are estimated at $20.7 billion.9
- People living in the northeastern United States
- People living below the federal poverty level
- Employees with certain exposures in the workplace
While there is currently no cure for asthma, there are diagnoses and treatment guidelines that are aimed at ensuring that all people with asthma live full and active lives.10
Asthma And Allergy Triggers
As the weather gets colder and more time is spent indoors, indoor asthma and allergy triggers are of growing concern. We also know that researchers have observed, in some studies, a link of seasonal and indoor allergies to the later development of asthma, added Dr. Bassett.
Indoor and outdoor trigger include: smoke pollution and strong odors, pet dander, mold, pollen, dust mites, exercise, pests like roaches and mice, colds and flus, certain foods, and changes in the weather.
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How Many People Die From Asthma
- On average, ten Americans die from asthma each day. In 2019, 3,524 people died from asthma. Many of these deaths are avoidable with proper treatment and care.7
- Adults are five times more likely to die from asthma than children.7
- Women are more likely to die from asthma than men, and boys are more likely than girls.7
- Black Americans are nearly three times more likely to die from asthma than white Americans.7
Asthma And Asthma Morbidity In Ethnic Minorities
The prevalence, morbidity, and severity of asthma are higher in children who belong to certain ethnic minorities , and/or whose households report indicators consistent with low SES . Although the overall prevalence of current childhood asthma in the U.S. is 8.7%, it varies widely by ethnicity, ranging from 45% in Asian Indians and Chinese to 19% for Puerto Ricans, with non-Hispanic whites and other minorities ranking in the middle . Similarly, the rate of current asthma in children from families below the federal poverty threshold is higher than in families above it . Asthma severity is higher in certain ethnic groups such as Puerto Ricans and African Americans . African Americans have more ER visits, hospitalizations, and higher mortality rates from asthma than whites . In contrast to the low mortality rates from asthma among Mexican-Americans , mortality among Hispanics in New York City, which has a large proportion of Puerto Ricans, is approximately 1.3 per 100,000 .
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The Impact Of Asthma On Daily Life
Asthma is often under-diagnosed and under-treated, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
People with under-treated asthma can suffer sleep disturbance, tiredness during the day, and poor concentration. Asthma sufferers and their families may miss school and work, with financial impact on the family and wider community. If symptoms are severe, people with asthma may need to receive emergency health care and they may be admitted to hospital for treatment and monitoring. In the most severe cases, asthma can lead to death.
What Are The Common Triggers Of Allergic Asthma
Learning to avoid your allergens is key to managing your allergic asthma. Find out how to avoid these common allergens:
These spider-like creatures are too small to see with the naked eye. They feed on human skin flakes. Both the body parts and feces of dust mites are considered allergens. They are found in mattresses, pillows, carpets, upholstered furniture, bedcovers, clothes, stuffed toys, fabric, etc.
Molds can grow on almost anything when moisture is present. Outdoors, many molds live in soil, or on leaves, wood, and other plant debris. Indoors, they can be found in a damp basement, near a leaky faucet or pipe, or a wet shower stall or bathtub. Molds produce tiny spores, which are like seeds, to reproduce. These spores become airborne easily.
Pet urine, feces, saliva, hair or dander are all allergens. But you don’t have to have pets in your house or visit places where animals are kept in order to be exposed to their allergens. Animal allergens are often detected in places where no animals live. People who own or have been around animals may have carried the allergens into the place.
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California Air Resources Board
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that continues to be a health concern in California, the United States and many other countries around the world. Asthma is a condition in which an individuals airways narrow, swell and produce extra mucus. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Children and certain racial groups, especially African Americans and Native Americans, have experienced relatively greater increases in asthma prevalence. Low income individuals also experience higher rates of asthma.
In 2014, 13.8% of adults reported that they had ever been diagnosed with asthma and 8.1% said they still have asthma . Among children under age 18, 13.7% had lifetime asthma and 9.4% had current asthma. This translates to approximately 4 million adults and 1.2 million children in California who have been diagnosed with asthma, and 2.3 million adults and 851,000 children in California who have current asthma. The prevalence has not changed signicantly since 2001, though increases have been shown in earlier decades.
There are a number of organizations that provide information on asthma management as well as conducting surveillance on asthma outcomes in California and nationwide. More Information
Global Epidemiology Of Asthma
Accurately estimating the incidence and prevalence of asthma on a global scale is challenging because the diagnosis is often based on survey responses to questions about relatively non-specific symptoms which are open to subjective interpretation . A recent multicenter cohort study conducted in Canada that enrolled 701 randomly selected adults with physician-diagnosed asthma, showed that current asthma could not be confirmed in 33% of patients . Moreover, there is no universally accepted definition nor is there a single test to definitively diagnose asthma . Additionally, asthma has been increasingly recognized as a heterogeneous disease comprised of both allergic and non-allergic phenotypes, a feature not captured in prior surveys.
Despite these limitations, validated tools for asthma diagnosis are available. The International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood validated questionnaire, which was used in 56 countries among children aged 6 to 14 years, is one of the frequently used tools for identifying asthma in children . Similarly, a validated instrument for adults is based on the European Community Respiratory Health Survey questionnaire . In the United States, the National Health Interview Survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention routinely collects data about prevalence using self-reported symptoms using validated measures .
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Reducing The Burden Of Asthma
Asthma cannot be cured, but good management with inhaled medications can control the disease and enable people with asthma to enjoy a normal, active life.
There are two main types of inhaler:
- bronchodilators , that open the air passages and relieve symptoms and
- steroids , that reduce inflammation in the air passages. This improves asthma symptoms and reduces the risk of severe asthma attacks and death.
People with asthma may need to use their inhaler every day. Their treatment will depend on the frequency of symptoms and the different types of inhalers available.
It can be difficult to coordinate breathing using an inhaler especially for children and during emergency situations. Using a spacer device makes it easier to use an aerosol inhaler and helps the medicine to reach the lungs more effectively. A spacer is a plastic container with a mouthpiece or mask at one end, and a hole for the inhaler in the other. A homemade spacer, made from a 500-ml plastic bottle, can be as effective as a commercially-manufactured inhaler.
Access to inhalers is a problem in many countries. In 2019, only half of people with asthma had access to a bronchodilator and less than one in five had access to a steroid inhaler in public primary health-care facilities in low-income countries .
According To Allergy Statistics By State Pennsylvania And Virginia Are The Worst States For Allergies
Researchers ranked cities based on fall and spring pollen scores, as well as the number of used over-the-counter allergy medications and the availability of board-certified allergists. All factors included, Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Richmond, Virginia, were cited as the most challenging places to live in with seasonal allergies. On the other hand, the best states for allergies, or the least challenging ones, are Washington and North Carolina .
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Who Can Get Asthma
Anyone can develop asthma at any age. People with allergies or people exposed to tobacco smoke and secondhand smoke are more likely to develop asthma.
Statistics show women tend to have asthma more than men, and asthma affects Black Americans more frequently than other races.
When a child develops asthma, healthcare providers call it childhood asthma. If it develops later in life, its adult-onset asthma.
Children do not outgrow asthma. They may have fewer symptoms as they get older, but they could still have an asthma attack. Your childs healthcare provider can help you understand the risks.
Many People In The Bronx Suffer From Asthma And Its Even Worse In The South Bronx
With the number of asthmatics averaging 11 to 13 percent of the adult population in 2015 and reaching up to 17 percent in some corners the South Bronx is one of the two most asthma-ridden neighborhoods in New York City , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Overall in New York City, about 10 percent of adults are asthmatic, according to the CDC. And nationwide, 7.5 percent of adults and 8.5 percent of children suffered from persistent asthma in 2015. New York state has consistently been above the national average for at least the past five years.
The South Bronx is tucked between three major highways the Major Deegan, the Bruckner, and the Cross Bronx expressways and is often named an island of pollution by its residents. The problem lies not only in the prevalence of asthma, as shown by CDC data, but also in asthma-related hospitalizations.
The New York City Department of Health has used public school records to report that the number of asthmatic children aged 5 to 14 in the Bronx has increased from 2.4 to 3.5 percent from 2010 to 2014. These figures are twice as high as those of city neighborhoods with the lowest prevalence, such as Staten Island and Queens.
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