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Asthma Awareness Month Resources

Release Date: 05/01/2014
Contact Information: David Bryan, 913-551-7433, bryan.david@epa.gov

Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


(Kansas City, Kan., May 1, 2014) - Asthma is a serious, sometimes life-threatening respiratory disease that affects the quality of life for millions of Americans. Although there is no cure for asthma yet, asthma can be controlled through medical treatment and management of environmental triggers.

May is Asthma Awareness Month. This is part of EPA’s ongoing effort to increase public awareness of the asthma epidemic and partner with thousands of organizations taking action to get asthma under control in communities across the nation. EPA promotes scientific understanding of environmental asthma triggers and management through research, education and community-focused outreach. During Asthma Awareness Month, EPA encourages state and local asthma programs to hold community-based events to increase awareness of asthma triggers and the successful strategies for addressing asthma disparities.

Asthma afflicts about 20 million Americans, including 6.3 million children. Since 1980, the biggest growth in asthma cases has been in children under 5. Some of the most common indoor asthma triggers include secondhand smoke, dust mites, mold, cockroaches and other pests, household pets, and combustion byproducts.

“Improving air quality is one of EPA’s top priorities, and our commitment is stronger than ever during Asthma Awareness Month,” said Karl Brooks, EPA Region 7 administrator. “By working together with diverse partners in communities across our four-state region, we are making a real difference in the lives of people dealing with asthma.”

As part of Asthma Awareness Month, EPA Region 7 has put together a number of resources you might use to promote asthma awareness in your news stories and features.

Program References/Resources:

• General Asthma Information: https://www.epa.gov/asthma/index.html
• EPA Asma en Espanol: www.epa.gov/iaq/espanol/asma.html
• National Asthma Awareness Month: https://www.epa.gov/asthma/awareness.html
• Children’s Asthma Campaign - Fight Asthma, Learn More campaign: http://noattacks.org/
• Student Curriculum: Recipes for Healthy Kids and a Healthy Environment: https://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/curriculum.htm
• Publications and Resources: https://www.epa.gov/asthma/publications.html
• Multimedia Resources (videos, audio, podcasts): https://www.epa.gov/asthma/multimedia.html
• Federal Partners and Expert Contacts: https://www.epa.gov/asthma/partners.html
• National Asthma Control Initiative (NACI): http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/prof/lung/asthma/naci/
• Indoor AIRepair Kit, Allergy and Asthma Network/Mothers of Asthmatics - for home, school and play: http://www.aanma.org/publication/indoor-air-repair-kit/
• National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) Data: http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/nhis/default.htm