May is Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month

May is when plants and trees release pollen into the air. This makes it peak season for asthma and allergies. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, allergies are major triggers for asthma symptoms. Eighty percent of children and 50 percent of adults with asthma also have allergies.

Did you know?

• Asthma costs the United States $56 billion each year.
• About 9 people die from asthma each day.
• An estimated 50 million Americans (1 in 5 Americans) suffer from all types of allergies including foods and drugs, latex, insects and eye allergies.
• Allergy is the fifth leading chronic disease in the U.S. among all ages, and the third most common chronic disease among children under 18 years old.

What are asthma and allergies?

Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the lungs and airways that causes shortness of breath and other problems. Common triggers are:

• Allergens, such as dust mites, cockroaches, mold and pollen
• Strenuous exercise
• Secondhand smoke
• Respiratory infections
• Strong emotions, such as laughing hard, crying and stress

Allergies happen when your immune system overreacts to a normally harmless substance, treating it like a deadly invader. Common triggers are:

• Tree, grass and weed pollen
• Mold spores
• Dust mite and cockroach allergen
• Cat, dog and rodent dander

How Blue Care Network helps

Our asthma program can help you manage your condition. For more information, please call 1-800-392-4247.