The number of people suffering from asthma continues to grow, according to a report released April 24 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Children with asthma miss an average of twice as many school days as other children.
Asthma attacks can vary from mild symptoms to serious, life-threatening episodes.
More than 5,000 Americans died last year from asthma attacks. The causes of asthma are not well understood, and scientists do not know why so many more people today are suffering from asthma and why symptoms appear more severe than they were 10 years ago. It is most likely that a combination of environmental and genetic factors is responsible. The best documented factor contributing to the development of asthma is atopy, which is the genetic, inherited susceptibility to become allergic. In susceptible persons with asthma, exposure to allergens such as dust mites, cockroaches, molds and dander from pets is associated with more severe symptoms.