Asthma Facts and Figures

Researchers believe they have found a gene linking asthma to blacks. The study showed that more than 25 percent of individuals of African descent carried the gene compared with less than five percent of Caucasians. Here are some facts and figures about asthma.

What is Asthma?

Asthma is the narrowing and swelling of the airways which then produce extra mucus and cause difficulty breathing. The most commonly seen symptoms associated with asthma are wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath, according to the Mayo Clinic. Asthma can be severe enough to be life-threatening for some individuals.

Causes and Triggers of Asthma

Asthma is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The environmental triggers that most commonly cause an asthma attack are:

* Pollen

* Animal dander

* Mold

* Cockroaches

* Dust mites

* Air pollutants such as smoke

Statistics about Asthma

The CDC compiles statistics about diseases and the following information is based on their research.

* Based on 2007 information thirty-four million people in the US had been diagnosed with asthma once in their lifetimes. This number translates to one in nine Americans, and of those, 12.3 million had experienced an asthma attack within the previous year.

* From the 2007 information, 22.9 million people in the US currently have asthma.

* Asthma is higher in females than males and higher in children under the age of 18 than adults.

* Blacks have the highest prevalence of asthma at 10.2 percent. Caucasians come in second with a prevalence of 7.6 percent followed by Hispanics at 6.8 percent.

* In 2004 there were 300 million people worldwide with a diagnosis of asthma.

Treatment Options for Asthma

Various treatment modalities exist for individuals diagnosed with asthma, and according to Johns Hopkins and the Mayo Clinic, these are the current guidelines.

* Daily use of inhaled corticosteroids to control the inflammatory process. The most commonly prescribed medications include Flovent, Pulmocort and Asmanex.

* Oral bronchodilator medications, for example, theophylline, for those with frequent asthma episodes.

* Oral medications to prevent an asthma attack. These include Singulair, Accolate and Zyflo.

* Use of a peak flow-meter to monitor early warning signs of an asthma attack. The peak air flow decreases several hours and up to a day or two prior to an asthma episode.

* Bronchodilator inhaler for use during a severe attack

* Atrovent inhaler for immediate relief of symptoms.

Asthma can be an emergency situation requiring immediate action by healthcare professionals. Respiratory distress and respiratory arrest can be a complication of a severe asthma attack, and without emergency intervention, death can occur. It is important to be aware of the warning signs and seek immediate medical attention in these circumstances.

Margie Miklas is a critical-care nurse with more than 30 years experience. She currently works in south Florida in a cardiovascular ICU with a specialty certification in cardiac surgery.