Age Healthier, Breathe Easier: Solutions You Can Use to Control or Reduce Environmental Triggers

Concerns, Trigger Description and What you can do

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, claiming approximately 119,000 lives each yearⁱ. COPD includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Asthma is a chronic lung disease which can be life threatening for older adults. More than 2.5 million Americans age 65 and older have asthma, and in 2002 more than 970,000 older adults suffered an asthma episodeⁱⁱ. The highest mortality rate for asthma occurs in the older population.

Environmental hazards can pose a significant risk to older adults, especially those with COPD and/or asthma. The following charts “Age Healthier, Breathe Easier: Solutions You Can Use” provides a list of useful solutions and some websites which may help you or your loved one avoid or control environmental triggers for COPD and asthma. While there are other non-environmental triggers, these suggestions are limited to environmental triggers.

For a free poster and short fact sheet on environmental triggers for COPD and asthma and older adults, please email aging.info@epa.gov or visit the EPA Aging Initiative website at http://www.epa.gov/aging/

National Institute on Heart, Lung and Blood, NIH, U.S. DHHS, Mortality and Morbidity Chartbook 2002 on Cardiovascular, Lung and Blood Diseases.
National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. DHHS, Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Adults, National Health Interview Surveys, 2001, and 2002 Data File
American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology: Seniors and Asthma http://www.aaaai.org/patients/seniorsandasthma/pets_allergies.stm

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Age Healthier, Breathe Easier: Solutions You Can Use to Control or Reduce Environmental Triggers

Concerns, Trigger Description and What you can do

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