CDC figures show that 6.7 million people suffered from asthma in 1980, and 17.3 million had the disease by 1998. Asthma is considered the leading chronic illness in children. It also heads the list of causes for student absence from school.
Untreated asthma can lead to permanent respiratory damage, so proper diagnosis is critical.
Key symptoms are wheezing and severe shortness of breath, persistent cough, and a constantly running nose. Students can obtain more statistics and information about the scope of the problem at the National Center for Environmental Health's Asthma Prevention Program. Asthma has generally been considered a childhood disease. Indeed, many people who suffer from asthma seem to outgrow it as they mature into adulthood. Now there is a rise in asthma among senior citizens.