The AAFA Agenda
Every year in the Month of May the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America or AAFA pushes their agenda towards increasing public awareness of Asthma and Allergies.
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a scary, chronic lung disease where the tiny airways in the lungs become narrowed, blocked, and inflamed. These airways swell and become highly sensitive.
When this happens, you experience wheezing when breathing. You become short of breath and feel tightness in your chest. Your coughing may increase due to mucus buildup that is thick and sticky. Asthmatics experience more symptoms during the night or early morning hours. There is no cure.
Any race, male or female, from infants to seniors can have asthma, and there are currently upwards of 25 million people who have chronic asthma.
What Causes Asthmatic Episodes?
Usually, inhaled substances of which the person is allergic to can cause an asthma attack or exacerbation of an asthma condition. Some of these substances can include,
- Pet hair and pet dander
- Dust
- Mold
- Mildew
- Grass
- Pollens
- Flowers
- Allergy to a particular food
- Rubber
- Plastic
- Latex
- Fumes
- Air pollutants such as smoke
Asthma symptoms can also increase due to excessive exercise, stressful situations, episodic health conditions such as bronchitis, pneumonia, or a cold.
Control and Maintain Asthma because if you do not, your asthma can become something more serious such as COPD or Emphysema. It is important to take all medications as prescribed and follow your doctor’s orders.
There is no cure for asthma; you must learn how to manage your condition by,
- Taking prescribed medications
- Eating well-balanced, healthy meals and snacks
- Staying away from those who are ill with a cold or the flu
- Getting adequate rest
- Devising an exercise plan individualized for you
- Avoiding drafts and severe cold weather
The difference between COPD and Emphysema is that they are not curable and they continue to become worse ending in death.
Technology at Work
Researchers are working toward new and improved methods to control asthma. May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, and the focus is new and improved medications, ways to live with Asthma, programs for asthmatics, awareness campaigns, and projects to bring asthma to light for those who are in the know and those who have no idea what asthma is and how asthma impacts your life.
May is the season that peaks for people who suffer from asthma and allergies. The month of May proves to be the best time of year to educate you, your family, and your friends about this chronic, life-threatening disease, because the numbers of allergy and asthma suffers are climbing every year to staggering numbers.
Yes, you can die from a severe asthma attack, however, in this day and age, asthma is highly controllable and maintained to the point that you can live your life normally without signs and symptoms of asthma interfering and taking the joy from your life.
Become Proactive in Combating Asthma and Allergies
Access the AAFA website for how you can help during the month of May, Asthma, and Allergy Awareness Month and bring the message from the AAFA, especially during the month of May that there is help for those who have Asthma. Learn how you can fight this chronic disease, and its causes and help others who have this chronic respiratory illness.
If you have asthma, it does not have to progress to COPD or emphysema if you properly maintain your respiratory system. Learn new approaches for your lung health through educational tools the AAFA provides to asthmatics, programs, educational material, online resources, informational newsletters, magazines, and outreach resources.