May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month and the timing is perfect because it's peak allergy season!
Allergens, substances that cause allergies, can trigger asthma. Asthma is a chronic disease of the lungs that causes wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing. It can occur at any age, but is most commonly diagnosed during childhood. Nationally, nearly one in 13 school-age children have asthma, and that rate is rising more rapidly in preschool-aged children and those living in urban inner cities than in any other group. Asthma that is not well-controlled can greatly limit a person's quality of life.
Common allergens that can exacerbate asthma include dust mites, cockroaches, pollen, molds, animal allergens, and rodents.
Asthma rates are not the same across demographic groups. Non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous groups have the highest asthma rates compared to other races and ethnicities. Structural racism and discrimination, limited access to quality health care, and environmental pollution contribute to asthma rate disparities.