Useful Resources
Asthma: Skyrocketing Rates
December 15, 2008
Asthma rates have skyrocketed in recent years, with the prevalence of this chronic lung condition increasing almost 59 percent from 1982 to 1996, and increasing by another 6 percent from 2001 to 2006, according to a 2008 American Lung Association report. Scientists are still trying to understand why, with one popular theory postulating that the cause may be due to our overly clean society. The so-called hygiene hypothesis suggests that a lack of early childhood exposure to bacteria and viruses may fail to stimulate the immune system, increasing susceptibility to asthma and allergies. Updated February 2010
Resource Links
Blogs
Internist Pat Bass maintains a blog about asthma.
Dr. Paul Enright, an investigator for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, shares advice and information
Guidance for Consumers
Details asthma triggers and how to mitigate them
Basic background information about all aspects of asthma
Tips on how to control asthma
Information on the most common asthma medications
Advocacy
The foundation works to develop and implement public policies to better the quality of life for people with asthma and allergies.
Promotes the Taking on Asthma initiative, a national program to improve the quality of care provided to people with asthma
National initiative to improve asthma control for children and adolescents
Position statements for the national network and nonprofit family health organization
Public Policy
The commission offers a comprehensive look at asthma and the environment in its report, "Attack Asthma: Why America Needs a Public Health Defense System to Battle Environmental Threats."
The NCSL's asthma Web resources page includes links to policy briefs on asthma, analyses of state legislation and a searchable database of state statutes.
Statistics, Trends and Research
Details the Asthma Health Outcomes Project study and its conclusions
Synopsis of some federal research projects delving into asthma
Includes findings from the Inner-City Asthma Study
Hospital visits and death rates
Copy of 2008 lung disease report that includes trends in asthma prevalence by gender and age
Understanding Asthma
Describes asthma triggers and how to prevent attacks
Explains the risk factors for asthma and how it is diagnosed and treated
Comprehensive overview includes a graphic look at the mechanism of asthma, and describes the different classifications of the lung condition.
Facts on asthma, including symptoms and treatments
