Cornerstone Health Alaska

• In 2019, 40.4% of adults age 18 and older who had asthma reported having one or more asthma attacks in the past year.

• Black adults have the highest rate of asthma attacks in the U.S.

• According to the CDC, asthma attacks in adults have declined from 2001 through 2019.

More Information:  https://aafa.org/get-involved/asthma-and-allergy-awareness-month/

• In 2019, 44.3% of children age 18 and younger who had asthma reported having one or more asthma attacks in the past year.1 o About 47.2% of children under the age of 5 with asthma had an attack.

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), asthma attacks in children have declined from 2001 through 2019.3 Even though asthma is controllable, it is estimated that 50% of children with asthma have uncontrolled asthma.

More Information:  https://aafa.org/get-involved/asthma-and-allergy-awareness-month/

• Approximately 25 million people in the U.S. have asthma. This equals about 1 in 13 people.

• About 20 million U.S. adults age 18 and older have asthma.

• Asthma rates are highest in Black adults in the U.S.

• Asthma is more common in female adults than male adults. Around 9.8% of female adults have asthma, compared to 6.1% of male adults.

• It is a leading chronic disease in children. Currently, there are about 5.1 million children under the age of 18 with asthma.

• Black children are nearly three times more likely to have asthma compared to white children.

• Asthma is more common in male children than female children. Around 8.4% of male children have asthma, compared to 5.5% of female children

More Information:  https://aafa.org/get-involved/asthma-and-allergy-awareness-month/

• Asthma is a long-term disease that causes inflammation and swelling of the airways. This results in narrowing of the airways that carry air from the nose and mouth to the lungs.

• Asthma symptoms include trouble breathing (shortness of breath), wheezing, coughing, and tightness or pain in the chest.

• Asthma symptoms can be triggered by different things for different people. Allergens, like dust or pet dander, are common triggers. Some people also develop asthma symptoms in response to certain foods or to exercise.

• Asthma can be deadly.

• There is no cure for asthma, but appropriate treatment prevents asthma attacks and can help you have a better quality of life.

• Asthma is one of the most common and costly diseases in the United States.

More Information:  https://aafa.org/get-involved/asthma-and-allergy-awareness-month/

Gestational Diabetes

You’re at risk for gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant) if you:

• Had gestational diabetes during a previous pregnancy.
• Have given birth to a baby who weighed over 9 pounds.
• Are overweight.
• Are more than 25 years old.
• Have a family history of type 2 diabetes.
• Have a hormone disorder called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
• Are an African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander person.

Gestational diabetes usually goes away after you give birth, but increases your risk for type 2 diabetes. Your baby is more likely to have obesity as a child or teen, and to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.

Before you get pregnant, you may be able to prevent gestational diabetes with lifestyle changes. These include losing weight if you’re overweight, eating a healthy diet, and getting regular physical activity.

More Information: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/getting-tested.html