Have you ever been interested in learning more about asthma? Most of us are familiar with asthma as one of the most frequent health problems known to man, but what exactly is asthma in medical terms? It’s a condition in which the airways narrow, swell, and create a lot of mucus.
In addition, the illness can cause wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing, and some people may even experience life-threatening asthma attacks. So, without further ado, here are some of the most interesting asthma facts.
#01. According to Statistics in the UK, 4.67 Million People in the Country Had Asthma
The North West of England has the greatest asthma prevalence, with over 778,000 persons suffering from the ailment. Furthermore, the South East came in second with roughly 687,900 asthmatics.
#02. The Prevalence of the Disease Among Children Grew From 8.7% to 9.4%
Asthma1 in children, on the other hand, fell to 8.3 in 2016. Even while some of the changes were not statistically significant, other groups detected a consistent pattern.
#03. Roughly 8–20% of Asthma Patients Have an Attack Induced by Painkillers
Yes, utilizing anti-inflammatory medicines can cause deadly bronchospasm2, often known as aspirin-induced asthma, in a considerable percentage of people with asthma.
#04. Antifungal Medication Is Beneficial to 87.1% of Asthmatic Patients
Asthmatic individuals produce an excessive amount of mucus, which allows fungi to flourish. In reality, fungi can create toxins in the body that cause inflammation in the lungs of patients.
#05. In Italy, the Prevalence of Asthma Has Increased by 35% Among Adults Aged 20 to 44
Furthermore, the statistics reveal that asthma rates among Greek kids increased from 1991 to 2003, but then plateaued from 2003 to 2008. Experts attribute the problem to urbanization, seafood consumption, and smoking.
#06. Asthma Affects 339 Million People Worldwide and Kills About 1000 People per Day
According to global asthma statistics, the illness is more common in younger persons aged 18–45, whereas the incidence among older adults and the elderly is unknown. Unfortunately, the global asthmatic population has grown by 3.6% since 2006.
#07. 31.1% Of Children Aged 4 or Younger Had to Visit Emergency Departments Due to Asthma Attacks
According to pediatric asthma data, 10.4% of children aged four and under were admitted to the hospital owing to asthma attacks.
#08. Work-Related Asthma Accounts for 15.7% of Current Adult Asthma Cases
The disease was most common among Americans in the social assistance and healthcare industries, accounting for 8.8% of instances, while educational services accounted for 8.2% of cases.
#09. Asthma Death Rate in UK Increased by More Than 20%
The United Kingdom has one of Europe’s highest asthma death rates, with the number of persons dying from an asthma attack rising by more than 20% in just five years.
#10. Only 10% Of Asthmatics Progress To Severe Asthma
Even if this represents less than 1% of the population, it is nevertheless important.
#11. 80% of Asthmatics Have No Idea How to Utilize an Inhaler
Furthermore, statistics suggest that half of the patients do not adhere to the prescribed treatment techniques.
#12. Non-Asthmatics & Those With Mild Asthma Had the Same Life Expectancy
Mild asthmatics have the same life expectancy as those who do not have asthma, which is around 80 years.
#13. Most Asthmatics Who Suffer a Near Fatal Attack Hadn’t Been Compliant
This indicates that they were not taking their medication as directed. They may have put off obtaining treatment or misused their rescue inhaler.
#14. The Majority of Fatal Asthma Attacks Do Not Happen in a Hospital
The majority of patients who arrive at the hospital with their central nervous systems3 intact survive.
#15. Asthma Is Often Hereditary
You are more likely to get asthma if someone in your immediate family does. Atopy, or a genetic predisposition to develop the allergic disease, can have a significant role in the development of allergic asthma. All asthma, however, is not allergic asthma.
#16. Asthma Is Responsible For 0.6% of All Hospital Admissions in Europe
Furthermore, asthma is the cause of 0.4 percent of hospital bed days in European countries. Nonetheless, rates can differ by up to tenfold between countries, and rates among youngsters are higher than rates among adults.
#17. Even Mild Asthmatics Can Die of Asthma
This is mostly because of improper care or delayed treatment.
#18. Children Do Not Typically Outgrow Asthma
A common myth is that a child’s asthma will go away as they get older. In fact, 95% of children with persistent asthma continue to have symptoms as adults.
#19. Using Albuterol as Your Sole Asthma Treatment Could Lead to Death
This is due to albuterol’s inability to control persistent inflammation4 in the airways, which is the root cause of asthma. This is why you should always use your asthma meds as prescribed.
#20. Socioeconomic Status and Asthma Fatality Are Inversely Related
In other words, the poorer you are, the more likely you are to die from asthma, owing to a lack of asthma information, medicine, and good care, as well as increased exposure to common asthma triggers5 like pollution, dust, cockroaches, and animal dander.
#21. Most People Who Die From a Severe Asthma Attack Delayed Going to the Hospital
Asthmatics in denial are prone to doing this.
#22. Cigarette Smoke Is a Primary Cause of Severe Asthma
This includes both new and used items (one more reason not to smoke in front of your kids).
#23. Near-Fatal Asthma Attacks Increase Risk of a Fatal Asthma Attack in the Future
This is why very close contact with your doctor is essential.
#24. Asthma Claimed the Lives of 23.7 Million People Worldwide
According to statistics from 2016, the health condition was ranked 28th globally among the most common causes of disease burden, and 27th in middle- and low-income nations. Asthma is a heterogeneous disease with many distinct origins, consequences, and life courses, according to doctors.
#25. The Majority of Asthma-Related Deaths Are Caused by a Shortage of Oxygen Rather Than Cardiac Arrest
This is significant because timely oxygen administration can help reduce asthma deaths.
#26. Asthma Affects Around 1.1 Million Children in the UK
It occurs as a result of the immune system’s response to certain triggers. Allergies, environmental variables such as pollen or dust, exercise, stress, and sickness are examples of triggers.
#27. Asthma Is Incurable
We can’t cure asthma, but with the correct treatment, we can keep it under control. Obtaining a diagnosis and treatment plan can assist you in managing the disease, alleviating symptoms, and preventing asthma attacks.
#28. Severe Asthma Affects 3.6% of All Persons With the Disease
According to a recent study conducted in the Netherlands, 3.6 percent of all persons with asthma had severe asthma. This equates to 10.4 out of every 10,000 adults in the population, which is a much lower rate than previously thought.
#29. Boys Are Twice as Likely as Girls To Get Asthma
Boys are more likely than girls to have positive allergy tests, to have higher bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and to have different patterns of airway function development, according to studies.
#30. Asthma Can Flare-up Without Wheezing
Wheezing is a type of breathing in which air flows through a restricted airway and generates a whistling sound. This occurs as a result of airway inflammation and constriction, making breathing harder. Wheezing is normally audible, but in the case of a severe attack, only a stethoscope can detect it. Wheezing may not occur if a significant flare-up prevents air from moving in and out of the lungs.
#31. Asthma Symptoms Differ From Person to Person
Some people have multiple asthma symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness, while others only have one. Symptoms can vary from one episode to the next in the same person, and they can also range from mild to severe. It is possible to properly control asthma by understanding how it affects each individual.
#32. Cannabis Smoke Remnants Might Worsen Asthma Symptoms
Although many people believe that smoking cannabis can help asthmatic sufferers relax, the truth is that it can actually make asthma episodes worse. In fact, instead of smoking the material, experts recommend using oils and edibles.
#33. Dietary Supplements Have Little or No Evidence To Treat Asthma
There is little to no evidence that dietary or herbal supplements improve asthma symptoms. Your doctor, on the other hand, may advise them for your overall health.
#34. The Average Asthma Death Rate in the UK Has Increased
Over a five-year period, the UK’s average asthma death rate is greater than that of Greece, Italy, and the Netherlands, and over 50% higher than the European Union’s average death rate.
#35. Exercising Regularly Is Found To Be Beneficial for Asthma Symptoms
It’s a common misconception that exercise aggravates asthma symptoms. Physical activity, on the other hand, serves to strengthen and enhance lung function. It has also been discovered that it improves persons with asthma’s overall fitness and quality of life. Strenuous physical exercise, on the other hand, can trigger an asthma attack and should be avoided.
#36. Rescue Medications Can’t Cure Asthma
Daily long-term controller drugs recommended by a doctor help asthma sufferers minimize chronic swelling in their airways, perhaps reducing the need for rescue inhaler use.
#37. Asthma Medicines Are Both Safe & Important For Asthma Management
Asthma is a chronic disorder that necessitates the use of long-term drugs to control the symptoms. These drugs enlarge the airways by relaxing the muscles that surround them. Some of the drugs used to treat asthma include bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids. These drugs do not cause addiction and help to keep asthma under control.
#38. Immunotherapy or Allergy Shots Should Be Considered
If asthma is induced by unavoidable allergens or if symptoms occur three days a week and more than two nights a month, immunotherapy or allergy injections should be considered. The shots are especially beneficial when symptoms persist throughout the year or are difficult to manage with medicines.
#39. More Than 3,500 People Die of Asthma Each Year
Each year, more than 3,500 people die from asthma, with nearly half of them being 65 or older. According to recent statistics, half of people with asthma experience at least one asthma attack each year, with children having more attacks than adults.
#40. Asthma Symptoms Can Be Triggered by Various Reasons
Exposure to an allergen such as ragweed, pollen, animal dander, or dust mites, irritants in the air such as smoke, chemical fumes, or strong scents, or harsh weather conditions can all provoke asthma symptoms.
