The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is observing Asthma Awareness Month throughout May, generating awareness about asthma attack prevention and recognizing asthma management programs from around the country.
Approximately 24 million Americans, 6 million of whom are children, suffer from asthma, leading to economic impacts surpassing $50 billion a year from factors such as medical bills and missed school and work days. The Environmental Protection Agency runs a comprehensive asthma program to aid sufferers, including environmental research, education and community outreach. Those who suffer from asthma can benefit from identifying and avoiding environmental triggers and monitoring local air quality, as well as developing an Asthma Action Plan with their doctors.
“Asthma is fundamentally connected to the health of our environment – whether it’s the air outside, or in our homes,” EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said. “By working together across the environmental, housing, social, and medical sectors, we can do even more to raise awareness about this critical public health issue and protect those who are most vulnerable, including the more than 6 million children in the U.S. with asthma.”
The EPA will recognize the winner’s of its National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management on May 12, including Philadelphia’s AmeriHealth Caritas, the Bronx, New York’s Urban Health Plan, Boston’s New England Asthma Innovation Collaborative and Seattle’s Public Health - Seattle and King County.
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