Asthma is a widespread condition all over the world and is seen to be an increasing trend. A recently released report by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics has the following facts and figures relating to asthma –
- Close to 25 million people in the united states; which is a little over 8 percent of the population, have asthma.
- Of these, over 7 million asthma sufferers are children.
- An estimated 3,395 deaths resulting from asthma were seen to have occurred in 2008.
- Over 10 million school days and over 14 million work days are lost each year due to asthma.
- Each year there are about 1.75 million trips made to the emergency room by asthma sufferers, and as many as 456,000 individuals needed hospitalization due to their condition.
- 52% of asthmatics, or 4.2% of the population report having had at least one attack in 2009.
Another study has indicated that a certain type of mold can grow inside the lungs – Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus). This mold growing in lungs could be responsible for asthma among those who are allergic to mold, since it can cause severe damage to the lungs.
