May 7, 2008

Asthma accounts for one third of all pediatric emergency room visits, and is a leading cause of school absenteeism. An estimated 20 million Americans have asthma. Every year asthma accounts for 484,000 hospitalizations, 1.9 million emergency department visits and approximately 4,000 deaths. In Illinois there were 209 asthma-related deaths in 2005, the most recent year for which data is available.

Asthma is a chronic condition characterized by inflammation of the airways in the lungs and by the spasm of muscles surrounding these airways. Inflammation occurs when irritated tissues swell and produce extra mucus, creating a condition known as bronchoconstriction. The combination of the two can cause constriction of or complete blockage of the airways and can initiate symptoms of an asthma attack.

There is no clear cause of asthma, but many risk factors have been linked to triggering asthma attacks. Individuals are more likely to have asthma if there is a family history of the disease and there are several biological and environmental factors that can trigger an asthma attack. Common allergens include pollen, dust mites, secondhand tobacco smoke, pesticides, cockroaches, bacteria, molds, animal hair and animal dander. Allergens can also come from food and food additives. Studies have shown that common additives, such as monosodium glutamate, can cause an asthma attack.

Symptoms of an asthma attack can include frequent coughing and wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. These symptoms may occur alone or in combination with other symptoms. A sign that asthma may be present, especially in children, is an excessive number of chest colds or episodes of pneumonia. Because these symptoms are common to other illnesses, asthma is often difficult to diagnose. Recognizing and reducing the frequency and severity of symptoms can help prevent further damage to the lungs.

Although asthma is not curable at this time, changes in lifestyle and proper medication can reduce the frequency and severity of asthma attacks.