Ten percent of children in Mississippi currently have asthma.
Asthma causes the airways of the lungs to tighten and swell, leading to wheezing, cough, and shortness of breath. Symptoms can range from mild to life threatening. Asthma cannot be cured, but it can be controlled.
Asthma is one of the leading causes of missed school days nationwide
School settings can expose children to asthma triggers including mold, cockroaches, and dust. Children with asthma miss on average twice as many days of school that other children, and more school days missed means lower academic performance.
State of Asthma in the U.S.
Asthma has continued to increase in all age, sex and racial groups, with over 26 million Americans being diagnosed. Asthma affects 8.3% of American adults and children, making it the leading chronic disease in children. In, 2015 one in twelve children had asthma. Over 11.5 million people with asthma, including 3 million children, have suffered from one or more asthma episodes or attacks.
Ways to control asthma
Each day, 10 Americans die from asthma, with loss of life reaching over 3,600 in 2015. Asthma cannot be prevented or cured, but it can be controlled. People who have asthma can lead high-quality, productive lives by following a medical management plan and avoiding contact with environmental triggers.
- Identify, avoid and remove asthma triggers at home and at school. More about asthma-friendly schools
- Asthma action plans help patients better control their asthma. Doctors, families, and children should work together to create a plan based on individual triggers, medications, and warning signs, and make sure that schools have them on file. Download an Action Plan now
- Vaccinate children against the flu.
- Educate teachers, administrators, and policy makers about asthma.
Asthma Attacks
Asthma attacks happen when triggers at home, at school, and in the environment make the airways to the lungs irritated and inflamed. Common triggers include:
- Pollen and mold
- Pet dander
- Cockroaches
- Cigarette smoke
- Cold, flu, or respiratory infections
- Climate changes (weather, temperature, etc.)
- Food allergies (nuts, dairy products, etc.)
Asthma can be controlled, improving the quality of life and reducing the cost of healthcare.
