1. The word asthma is derived from the Greek άσθμα, ásthma, "panting".
2. Asthma is caused by environmental and genetic factors.
3. Asthma symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.
4. Each year, more than 300 million people are affected worldwide.
5. Asthma is primarily treated with medicines taken via inhalers. Usually with a combination of preventer and reliever inhalers.
6. Eleven people die from asthma every day in the United States.
7. One in 15 Americans suffer from asthma.
8. More women die of asthma than men.
9. Asthma is the most common chronic childhood disease.
10. Females account for nearly 65 percent of asthma deaths overall.
11. Fifty percent of asthma cases are “allergic-asthma.”
12. Forty-four percent of all asthma hospitalizations are for children.
13. Blacks are three times more likely to die from asthma than whites.
14. Treatment of acute symptoms is usually with an inhaled short-acting beta-2 agonist (such as salbutamol).
15. In contrast to emphysema, asthma affects the bronchi, not the alveoli.
16. Insufficient levels of vitamin D are linked with severe asthma attacks.
