According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), asthma is characterized by inflammation of the air passages resulting in the temporary narrowing of the airways that transport air from the nose and mouth to the lungs. Asthma symptoms can be caused by allergens or irritants that are inhaled into the lungs, resulting in inflamed, clogged and constricted airways. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing tightness in the chest. In severe cases, asthma can be deadly.
There is no cure for asthma, but asthma can be managed with proper prevention and treatment. Asthma has a genetic component. If only one parent has asthma, chances are 1 in 3 that each child will have asthma. If both parents have asthma, it is much more likely (7 in 10) that their children will have asthma. More Americans than ever before say they are suffering from asthma. It is one of this country's most common and costly diseases. The AAFA states that 60 million people in the United States, one out of every four, suffer from asthma and allergies.
The AAFA goes on to calculate that the cost to the United States for asthma, not
including allergies, is $18 billion dollars a year. Their numbers indicate that every day in the U.S.:
* 40,000 people miss school or work due to asthma
* 30,000 people have an asthma attack
* 5,000 people visit the emergency room due to asthma
* 1,000 people are admitted to the hospital due to asthma
* 11 people die from asthma
