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Overview
Asthma is a disease in which the airways become blocked or narrowed. These effects are usually temporary, but they cause shortness of breath, breathing trouble, and other symptoms. If an asthma episode is severe, a person may need emergency treatment to restore normal breathing. More Americans than ever before say they are suffering from asthma. This chronic lung disease is characterized by inflammation of the air passages, which results in the temporary narrowing of the airways that transport air from the nose and mouth to the lungs. It is the most common and costly illness in the United States. In most cases, the use of air purifiers, vacuum cleaners and cleaning products that decrease the amount of dust and allergens in the air assist asthmatics in everyday life.
Impact
An estimated 50 to 60 million Americans suffer from it. About one of every five adults and children suffer from allergies, including allergic asthma. Allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic disease in the United States. More than an estimated 17 million people in the United States have asthma. This health problem is the reason for nearly half a million hospital stays each year. People with asthma can be of any race, age or sex. Its treatment costs billions of dollars each year. The prevalence of asthma has been increasing since the early 1980s across all age, sex and racial groups. In most cases, the use of air purifiers, vacuum cleaners and cleaning products that decrease the amount of dust and allergens in the air assist asthmatics in everyday life.
What Causes Asthma?
However, the prevalence of asthma is higher among children than adults, and higher among blacks than whites. Allergies have a genetic component. If only one parent has allergies, chances are one in three that each child will have an allergy. If both parents have allergies, it is much more likely (7 in 10) that their children will have allergies. Despite the far-reaching effects of asthma, much remains to be learned about what causes it and how to prevent it. Although asthma can cause severe health problems, in most cases treatment can control it and allow a person to live a normal and active life. Medical consultation with your doctor is vital, as is improving the quality of the air you breathe. Home air purifiers have become very popular in recent years because they have become more affordable and much more effective with the latest technological advances. Leading air purifiers include the HealthMate HM 400 Air Purifier from Austin Air and the more high-end HealthPro Air Purifier by IQ Air. A portable unit for use at the office is the FreshZone Air Purifier by Delonghi.
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