Facts of the Matter – Asthma
asthma comes from the Greek aazein, meaning “to pant” or “breathe hard”. Hippocrates used the word asthma around 450 BC. Clinical definitions appeared in writings from the first century AD.
a chronic disease that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways, asthma results in symptoms of breathlessness, wheezing, chest tightness, coughing and sleeplessness. Asthmatics’ suffering varies. Some require daily medication and frequent hospitalization to treat life-threatening attacks.
asthma cannot be cured, but it can be controlled, making it less debilitating and expensive. Preventative measures include recognizing and avoiding triggers, following an action plan to manage the condition and using proper medications.
in 2005, 255,000 people dies of asthma.
the world health organization estimates that 300 million people live with asthma. Worldwide, it is the most common chronic childhood disease and one of the most frequent diagnoses made in
date from the U.S. Department of Health and human Services indicate that about 30.2 million people in the United States – about 10.5 percent of the population – have been diagnosed with asthma at some point in their lives. It ranks among the five costliest major chronic conditions.
the number of people with asthma in the
although asthma affects individuals in both high- and low-income countries, more than 80 percent of asthma-related deaths take place in less-developed nations. In the
one of the most cost-effective asthma medications is an inhaled steroid that reduces inflammation and prevents dangerous and costly attacks. It remains underutilized globally, in part because it is most expensive in poorest nations.
uncontrolled asthma perpetuates a cycle of absenteeism from work and school, as well as disability and poverty. It costs developing countries an estimated US$20 billion per year.
the global
- Shirley Stephenson
the Rotarian, Rotary’s Magazine
March 2011