Asthma Awareness

In 2004, asthma accounted for 3,816 deaths and an estimated 13.6 million doctor visits, 1.1 million hospital outpatient visits, 1.8 million emergency department visits, and 497,000 hospitalizations in the U.S. CDC estimates that 32.6 million Americans have been diagnosed with asthma during their lifetimes, of whom 22.2 million still have asthma. Roughly 12 million Americans experience an asthma attack each year.

CDC’s National Asthma Control Program works to reduce the number of deaths, hospitalizations, emergency department visits, school or work days missed, and limitations on activity due to asthma.

During FY 2006, the National Asthma Control Program funded grantees in 33 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, three national organizations, and others for activities to be conducted in FY 2007. These grantees and CDC are conducting asthma tracking, intervention, partnership, and public health research activities. CDC also funded seven urban school districts, one state education agency, and two national non-government organizations to support and address asthma control within a coordinated school health program.

You can control your asthma. Learn how.

More Information and Resources

• Data and Surveillance
• Interventions
• Policy and Legislation
• Prevention of Occupational Asthma