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What is Asthma?
Asthma is an illness in which people have repeated episodes of breathing difficulties due to narrowing of the airways in the lungs.
SYMPTOMS
may include one or a combination of the following:
- wheezing
- coughing
- shortness of breath
- chest tightness
ASTHMA FACTS:
- There are about 100,000,000 asthma sufferers worldwide today.
- It is estimated that about 6.4% of all Canadians over the age of 12 have asthma.
- It is the most prevalent chronic disease in children of industrialized nations.
- 10-15% of children are reported to have asthma
- It is the leading cause of hospital admissions for children. There were over 54,000 admissions for children and adults to Canadian hospitals in 1994 alone.
- There are about 10 deaths per week attributed to asthma. Annually, 20 children and about 500 adults die from acute asthma attacks.
- Asthma is the leading cause of absenteeism from school and the 3rd leading cause of missed work.
- There is a direct medical cost of approximately $600,000,000.00 annually. This sum is greater than the combined costs associated with HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. Over $44,000,000.00 is spent annually in Ontario alone on asthma related medical care.
For more information click here Lung Association