Bracing for a Spike in Asthma Hospitalizations and Emergencies
09 Sep 2021
Washington, D.C., Sept. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- September is one of the most dangerous times of year for 25 million people in the United States living with asthma. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) wants to make sure everyone is aware and prepared to protect individuals’ health and reduce the impact on overburdened health systems due to increasing COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Just after the school year starts, September typically has the highest numbers of asthma hospitalizations. This is known as the “September Asthma Epidemic”. The spike in asthma hospitalizations occurs due to an uptick in the spread of respiratory infections, the culmination of ragweed allergy season, and the exposure to indoor environmental triggers and allergens that many students and school staff have been away from all summer (and likely far longer this year due to COVID-19). Viral infections are a major culprit for asthma attacks in children and adults. Asthma hospitalizations tend to climb first for school-age and preschool children, and next, adults. The worst of the month tends to hit by the third week of September, dubbed “Asthma Peak Week.”
“Last year when schools moved to virtual learning and people wore masks in public, emergency room visits and hospitalizations due to asthma dropped. Flu cases also sharply dropped,” states Melanie Carver, AAFA’s chief mission officer. “Contagious respiratory infections have a much bigger impact on asthma than previously understood and the more we can do to prevent the spread of these illnesses, the more we can control asthma.”
With hospitals across the country battling increased COVID-19 cases due to the delta variant, it is more important than ever that we prevent and control the September asthma epidemic.
AAFA recommends the following steps to prevent asthma flare-ups and life-threatening emergencies:
AAFA Resources:
Please connect with AAFA to coordinate interviews or for more information: media@aafa.org
##
About AAFA
Founded in 1953, AAFA is the oldest and largest non-profit patient organization dedicated to saving lives and reducing the burden of disease for people with asthma, allergies and related conditions through research, education, advocacy and support. AAFA offers extensive support for individuals and families affected by asthma and allergic diseases, such as food allergies and atopic dermatitis (eczema). Through its online patient support communities, network of local chapters and affiliated support groups, AAFA empowers patients and their families by providing practical, evidence-based information and community programs and services. AAFA is the only asthma and allergy patient advocacy group that is certified to meet the standards of excellence set by the National Health Council. For more information, visit .
Attachments
Organizations
Indications
Targets
-Drugs
-Hot reports
Get started for free today!
Accelerate Strategic R&D decision making with Synapse, PatSnap’s AI-powered Connected Innovation Intelligence Platform Built for Life Sciences Professionals.
Start your data trial now!
Synapse data is also accessible to external entities via APIs or data packages. Leverages most recent intelligence information, enabling fullest potential.