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Asthma

Asthma is a chronic condition in which a person’s airways become inflamed, making it difficult to breath. This can be exacerbated by a variety of environmental exposures, such as air pollution, mold, or volatile organic compounds. Interior spaces can filter and ventilate air and limit harsh chemical use to reduce exposures.

Definition

Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by the constriction of the muscles surrounding the bronchial tubes. The narrowed air passages cause the afflicted individual to have difficulty breathing. Some risk factors for developing asthma are family history, viral respiratory infections, direct and indirect exposure to tobacco smoke, and air pollution. Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases affecting children, with nearly 1 in 13 school-age children having asthma.

Human Health Mechanism

Individuals with asthma suffer from a variety of respiratory symptoms, including: consistent coughing, difficulty breathing, and wheezing. Asthma decreases the quality life of the individuals affected by it. In children, asthma is the leading cause of absenteeism related to chronic diseases. The condition is typically exacerbated by airborne particles, such as smoke, air pollution, dust, and mold.

Indicator Measurement

Data are available through the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PLACES public dashboard and are collected from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), which is a state-based, telephone interview survey. BRFSS provides asthma prevalence data by modeling the percentage of adults who answered “yes” to the following two questions: “Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional that you have asthma?” and “Do you still have asthma?”.

Related Health Outcomes & Exposures

Traffic Proximity, PM2.5, Ozone, Waste Proximity, Obesity

References

Click here for References
  1. Asthma Data Source: CDC. CDC PLACES: Asthma. Data year 2020. Accessed April 2023. https://chronicdata.cdc.gov/500-Cities-Places/PLACES-Census-Tract-Data-GIS-Friendly-Format-2023-/yjkw-uj5s
  2. American Lung Association. What Causes Asthma? Accessed October 19, 2023. https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/asthma/learn-about-asthma/what-causes-asthma
  3. CDC. Learn what could be triggering your asthma attacks. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published July 31, 2023. Accessed October 19, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/triggers.html
  4. Dharmage SC, Perret JL, Custovic A. Epidemiology of Asthma in Children and Adults. Front Pediatr. 2019;7:246. Published 2019 Jun 18. doi:10.3389/fped.2019.00246
  5. Eitland E, Klingensmith L, MacNaughton P, et al. Schools For Health. 2017. Accessed October 19, 2023. https://forhealth.org/Harvard.Schools_For_Health.Foundations_for_Student_Success.pdf.
  6. Gautier C, Charpin D. Environmental triggers and avoidance in the management of asthma. J Asthma Allergy. 2017;10:47-56. Published 2017 Mar 7. doi:10.2147/JAA.S121276
  7. Hsu J, Qin X, Beavers SF, Mirabelli MC. Asthma-Related School Absenteeism, Morbidity, and Modifiable Factors. Am J Prev Med. 2016;51(1):23-32. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2015.12.012
  8. World Health Organization (WHO). Fact Sheet: Asthma. Updated May 4, 2023. Accessed October 19, 2023. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/asthma

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