Tribal-FERST Issue Profile: Childhood Asthma

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that inflames and narrows airways, causing wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and coughing. Asthma affects people of all ages, but most often starts during childhood. In the U.S, more than 25 million people are known to have asthma, with around 7 million of them being children.

Although anyone can get asthma, it disproportionally affects children from lower-income families. Additionally, asthma rates among African-American and Hispanic children are higher than those among Caucasian children.

No one knows for sure why some people develop asthma and others don’t, however it is believed to be influenced by family history and environment.

Although there isn’t a cure for asthma yet, it can be controlled through medical treatment and managing environmental triggers, such as second-hand smoke.

Learn more about asthma and how to manage environmental triggers by exploring the links below.