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
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 .
How Common Is Insect Allergy
People who have insect allergies are often allergic to bee and wasp stings and poisonous ant bites. Cockroaches and dust mites may also cause nasal or skin allergy symptoms.
- Insect sting allergies affect 5 percent of the population.13
- At least 90-100 deaths occur each year in the United States due to insect sting anaphylaxis.14
References
American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. . Allergy Facts.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. . 2018 National Health Interview Survey data. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from
FoodSafety.gov. . Protect Yourself from Food Allergies. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Wood, R. A., Camargo, C. A., Lieberman, P., Sampson, H. A., Schwartz, L. B., Zitt, M., Collins, C., Tringale, M., Wilkinson, M., Boyle, J., & Simons, F. E. R. . Anaphylaxis in America: the prevalence and characteristics of anaphylaxis in the United States. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 133, 461467.
Jerschow, E., Lin, R. Y., Scaperotti, M. M., & McGinn, A. P. . Fatal anaphylaxis in the United States 1999-2010: temporal patterns and demographic associations. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 134, 1318-1328.e7.
Allergy Research
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Systems For Providing Care
The NRAD panels concluded that overall care was poor in over 80% of those who died from asthma.
In the UK, and probably in other countries, more and more patient care is being devolved into the primary care sector, without the necessary resources and training. Historically, care for asthma has moved from secondary to primary care. In addition, the UK political control of the NHS is such that systems for care change fairly frequently, without true long-term planning and chronic care has deteriorated. In the 1990s most general practices employed trained asthma nurses to provide chronic care . However this has changed, NRAD reported that 46% of general practice nurses doing asthma reviews had no training in this field, and none as far as we were aware had any paediatric training.
Suggested changes
It may be necessary to revert back to a system where specialists have more involvement in the care of people with asthma, particularly after attacks. This needs to be coupled with ongoing asthma training for generalists.
Is Asthma A Disability
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that causes the bronchial tubes to spasm due to inflammation of the lining of the lungs . Asthma is often determined by the frequency of attacks and their intensity, rather than the symptoms displayed. People with asthma are usually diagnosed with this condition by a physician and prescribed asthma medications which eventually ends after a few months. If asthma exists alongside other medical conditions and/or it negatively affects the lives of the people, then it is considered a disability. However, if a person with asthma is able to carry out the day-to-day tasks in life, then there is no need to consider asthma as a disability..
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Asthma Deaths Have Decreased Over Time And Varied By Demographic Characteristics
Deaths due to asthma are rare and are thought to be largely preventable, particularly among children and young adults. National asthma guidelines recommend early treatment and supportive efforts that focus on providing quality health care and patient education to patients who are at high risk of asthma-related death.
The rate of asthma deaths decreased from 15 per million in 2001 to 10 per million in 2016. Adults were nearly five times more likely than children to die from asthma. The asthma death rate was highest among the 65 years and older age group compared with all other age groups. Females had a higher death rate and non-Hispanic blacks were two to three times more likely to die from asthma compared with other race groups as well as Hispanics. Among children, boys and non-Hispanic blacks were more likely to die from asthma. The same is true for adults.
CDCs National Asthma Control Program was created in 1999 to help the millions of people with asthma in the United States gain control over their disease. The NACP conducts national asthma surveillance and funds states to help them improve their asthma surveillance and to focus efforts and resources where they are needed.
Asthma Deaths by Demographic Characteristics
| Total |
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Is Asthma On The Rise
Asthma is the most common chronic childhood disease. Asthma rates have changed a lot over the years. In the 1950s, almost no children had asthma. Today, over 7 million children have asthma. In the late 1980s, asthma rates started to rise. This is different from what happened in the past, when asthma rates declined. Today, asthma rates are increasing in all age groups. The overall increase in asthma rates is called the asthma epidemic. In fact, asthma rates have risen so much in the last few decades that asthma is now the leading cause of hospital visits by children..
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How Many People Died From Asthma In The Uk In 2012
Around 1,200 people a year are recorded as dying from asthma.
Although low compared with most other lung diseases, this figure is still too high. Given the manageability of asthma, mortality should be closer to zero. The Royal College of Physicians report Why asthma still kills details how managing the disease more effectively could dramatically reduce mortality.
UK deaths from asthma compared with other lung diseases, 2012
World Asthma Day 2021
Today is World Asthma Day, when people across the asthma community come together to raise awareness of the challenges being faced by millions of people living with asthma, their families, friends and caregivers. Asthma is a common condition, affecting approximately 358 million people worldwide, and causing a major health and financial toll1,2,3. This years World Asthma Day theme is both important and timely, calling on the asthma community to uncover asthma misconceptions by combatting misinformation and sharing lesser-known facts about asthma.
Since its founding in 1998, World Asthma Day has taken place each May, organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma , an international advocacy group working tirelessly to support people with asthma. As it represents a central milestone in the asthma community calendar, we are marking the day by calling out and exploring some key myths and misconceptions about asthma.
So, what are your asthma misconceptions? As its hard to know what you dont know, weve picked out three key topics related to asthma where misconceptions are prevalent:
Myth: All asthma is the same
Asthma is not a one size fits all disease. When you think about it, its not surprising that a disease that affects more than 1/3 of a billion people worldwide1 manifests in different ways for different people, but it is frequently mischaracterized.
Myth: Asthma has nothing to do with climate change and the environment
Myth: Asthma attacks are normal
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At What Ages Are People Most Likely To Have Asthma
Recent figures show that young adults are the group most likely to have been diagnosed with asthma at some point in their lifetime. Between 2004-12, lifetime prevalence of asthma has declined in children and increased in adults.
Number of people per 100,000 ever diagnosed with asthma, by age group, 200412
What Should I Do If I Have A Severe Asthma Attack
A severe asthma attack needs immediate medical care. The first step is your rescue inhaler. A rescue inhaler uses fast-acting medicines to open up your airways. Its different than your normal maintenance inhaler, which you use every day. You should only use the rescue inhaler in an emergency.
If your rescue inhaler doesnt help or you dont have it with you, go to the emergency department if you have:
- Anxiety or panic.
- Bluish fingernails, bluish lips or gray or whitish lips or gums .
- Chest pain or pressure.
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He Collapsed Like A Flick Of A Light Switch
One of those was eight-year-old Bailey, twin brother of Mason, from Cambridgeshire, who had mild asthma.
Their mum, Nicki Davis, 49, says Baileys condition didnt stop him from doing the things he loved.
However, one day after school in 2017, everything changed.
He came into my room and said, Mummy, I cant breathe properly.
I helped him take a couple of puffs of his reliever inhaler but suddenly, like a flick of a light switch, he collapsed, Nicki says.
She screamed for help while trying to do CPR and called emergency services.
The paramedics were working on him for over an hour but they couldnt revive him in hospital, Nicki says.
Bailey died in front of me, at just eight years old.
No-one should have to go through what we have.
How many more lives have to be cut short before people realise how serious asthma can be?
Kay Boycott, chief executive of Asthma UK, said it was completely unacceptable that thousands of people with asthma in England and Wales have died needlessly from asthma attacks.
Five years ago, a national review found two-thirds of asthma deaths could have been prevented.
And, Ms Boycott added, there were still tragic cases of lives being cut short.
Since 2013, the rate of asthma deaths has increased 17%, from 2.15 to 2.5 per 100,000 people.
In 2018, 20 children aged under 14 died from asthma in 2018, up from 17 in 2017 and 13 the year before.
The data was analysed by Asthma UK from ONS figures.
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
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Most Recent Asthma Data
These tables feature the latest national and state statistics on the burden of asthma among children and adults. The data are from national and state surveillance systems administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Links to sources are provided with each table to assist with finding additional information on the data and relevant tables and reports.
Follow to learn more about helping people with asthma live healthier lives by gaining control over their asthma.
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Asthma Morbidity & Mortality
There are just under 25 million people living with asthma in the United States, including:
Of those who have ever had a diagnosis of asthma, many reported at least one or more asthma attack including:
- 51.6% of children 9
In 2017 3,564 people died from asthma 11:
- The asthma death rate is highest among people over the age of 65 11
- Adult females have a higher rate of death than males 11
- Among children, boys are more likely to die than girls 11
- Blacks are two to three times more likely to die from asthma than all other racial or ethnic groups 11
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Asthma Attack Symptoms & First Aid
Asthma is a respiratory condition that affects your lungs. It causes repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. Asthma can be controlled by taking medicine and avoiding the triggers. However, when symptoms get worse, it is called an asthma attack. Asthma affects people of all ages and often starts during childhood.
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Compared To Men Women Are More Likely To Suffer From Asthma Due To Hormones
Women can also experience worse asthma symptoms and more frequent attacks. Likewise, women who develop asthma after menopause will probably have problems with controlling their condition. On top of that, women with asthma that are older than 65 are at a higher risk of experiencing a life-threatening asthma attack.
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Latin And Central America
It is approximated that 40 million Latin Americans live with asthma.
In some reports, urban residency within Latin America has been found to be associated with an increased prevalence of asthma. Childhood asthma prevalence was found to be higher than 15 percent in a majority of Latin American countries. Similarly, a study published relating to asthma prevalence in Havana, Cuba estimated that approximately 9 percent of children under the age of 15 are undiagnosed for asthma, possible due to lack of resources in the region.
The Test Can Save Money
A spirometry test generally costs less than $100. Not having the test can cost a lot more money. If the test shows that you do not have asthma, this can save you hundreds of dollars a month for asthma medicines. If you do not have the test and you have asthma, an emergency room visit for an asthma attack can cost thousands of dollars.
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About 55 Million Children In The Us Have Asthma
Symptoms of asthma in children include shortness of breath, frequent coughing that can be triggered by a viral infection, exercise, or cold air, wheezing, and chest congestion. Keep in mind that the symptoms wont always be the same. They can become better or worse in the future.
Even though childhood asthma is incurable, it can be controllable with the proper treatment.
How Is Asthma Treated
Asthma treatments vary between people and the Mayo Clinic advises following a treatment planned prescribed by a doctor at the first sign of an asthma attack.
This may include puffs from an inhaler, which provided medicine that can expand airways. Some may use a nebulizer. People with regular symptoms should be on medication to make the exacerbations less severe, Mogayzel said.
Emergency treatment can include medication that similarly expands the airways and reduces inflammation, Mayo Clinic says. In life-threatening case, a doctor may use a breathing tube, the hospital says.
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The Prevalence Of Asthma Is High In Massachusetts
- In 2015, approximately 1 in 9 people in Massachusetts 10.2% of adults and 12.9% children currently had asthma2.
- The prevalence of lifetime and current asthma among adults was higher in Massachusetts than the nation.
- In Massachusetts, prevalence of current asthma was higher among
- Adult females compared to adult males
- Male children compared to female children
- Adults and children in households with lower incomes
- Adults and children in households with lower educational attainment of the adult
- Adults who smoke
- Adults and children who have a disability
1 Moorman JE, Akinbami LJ, Bailey CM, et al. National Surveillance of Asthma: United States, 20012010. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 3. 2012
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