Community Corner

CDC: Asthma Rates Rising

The number of those with asthma—especially children—continue to increase in recent years. May is asthma awareness month.

More parents and children have had to discuss and battle the nuances of asthma as the number of people diagnosed in the U.S. with the lifelong disease rose by at least 4.3 million since 2001, according to the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention.

Even though an increase was seen in all demographic groups, a higher percentage of children (9.6 percent) reported having asthma than adults (7.7 percent.)

These new numbers were released in a CDC report May 3. May has been named asthma awareness month.

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"Despite the fact that outdoor air quality has improved, we've reduced two common asthma triggers—secondhand smoke and smoking in general—asthma is increasing," said Paul Garbe, chief of CDC's Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch, in a statement. "While we don't know the cause of the increase, our top priority is getting people to manage their symptoms better."

Asthma can cause wheezing, breathlessness, and coughing, often triggered by an environment’s air quality. Prescribed medicine, such as corticosteroids, can help control these systems.

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