Probability of Having Asthma

Asthma affects approximately 25 million Americans (7.9% of the population), including about 4.6 million children. It is one of the most common chronic diseases in the United States and the leading chronic disease in children. The prevalence has been relatively stable in recent years after decades of increase.

Risk factors for developing asthma include family history (having a parent with asthma roughly triples risk), allergies, childhood respiratory infections, exposure to air pollution and secondhand smoke, obesity, and occupational exposures (occupational asthma accounts for about 15% of adult cases). Asthma is more prevalent among Black Americans (10.6%) compared to White Americans (7.7%).

While there is no cure for asthma, it can be effectively managed. Treatment involves avoiding triggers, using inhaled corticosteroids for long-term control, and having rescue inhalers (albuterol) for acute symptoms. Biologic therapies have been a major advance for severe asthma. Despite available treatments, asthma still causes about 3,500 deaths per year in the US, most of which are preventable with proper management.