What Asthma Stats Surprised You Most?

 

** Cross posting from My Life as an Asthma Mom Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts **

 

This is the LAST graphic for Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month! 

 

 

I shared a lot of facts with you - which was your favorite?! 

 

 

Or most surprising?

 

Surprising asthma stats for me 

 

When my kids were little and would get sick, I was terrified to go to sleep at night because I was afraid they would stop breathing. 

Literally. 

Who can blame me? Two of my kids have severe asthma and were hospitalized 12 separate times for asthma (made worse by pneumonia, RSV, or wild fire smoke.) 

2 of those hospitalizations for my son were ICU admissions.

When they came home from the hospital, I would pace the floors all night, keeping an eye on them and checking on their oxygen levels. 

Now it's my turn to worry. 

Because older adult females have the highest rates of asthma deaths. 

Gah! 

CDC's latest data for asthma mortality (deaths) shows: 

 

The screenshot is a little small, so here's the important facts:

 

• Males over age 18 account for 1,341 deaths per year
• Females over age 18 account for 2,031 deaths per year

In my profession of Public Health, we look at "rates". Here's another way to look at the data:

• Adult males have 10.6 deaths per million 
• Adult females have 15.4 deaths per million 

If your lungs are cranky, talk to your doctor. There are a LOT of inhalers on the market, find one that works for your body!