May Is Asthma Awareness Month
It seems like just about everyone knows someone that has asthma to some degree. Interestingly the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states only about 7.8% of the United States population has it.
That statistic taken from their website is from 2019, so I can't imagine it's changed much. Still, I would have thought the number would be higher. Asthma is a real concern no matter the published numbers of people it impacts. Individuals not having an inhaler specific to them at the time of an asthma attack can be in a real bind.
The whole month of May is Asthma Awareness Month and World Asthma Day officially falls on May 3rd, 2022. If you or someone you love is prone to asthma attacks of course having an inhaler is a good idea, but there are ways to help prevent those attacks in the first place.
We all have similar but at the same time very different bodies with how we react to irritants. Common potential asthma triggers are things like tobacco smoke, dust mites, pests, pets, mold, and even things like sinus infections and acid reflux. Knowing what irritants affect you the most is key.
As part of Asthma Awareness Month, there are plenty of resources available online in the form of a toolkit. It has items like a personal asthma action plan, inhaler use tips, educational and interactive lessons for teachers, and asthma control brochures. It's certainly not a cure for asthma, but a little education and support can go a long way to helping those impacted.