New York State Department of Health Recognizes Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month

Department Promotes Asthma Awareness and Educational Tools for Managing Asthma During Allergy Season

ALBANY, N.Y. (May 1, 2024) – The New York State Department of Health recognizes National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month by educating New Yorkers about the importance of managing asthma, which can be triggered by allergens, during the peak season of flare-ups.

"Asthma is a common chronic condition that affects nearly 2 million New Yorkers and can be serious and even life-threatening," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "Although there's currently no cure for asthma, it can be fully managed with guidelines-based care. Creating an asthma action plan with a health care provider, tracking symptoms, and identifying and reducing environmental asthma triggers can make a big difference in helping people live full and active lives."

Asthma is a chronic disease of the lungs that causes wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing. It is estimated that 1 in 12 children in New York and an additional 1.5 million adults have asthma. The rate of asthma is rising more rapidly in preschool-aged children and those living in urban inner cities than in any other group. Asthma that is not well-controlled can limit a person's quality of life.

Stark inequities in asthma-related health outcomes are found across demographic groups with asthma emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, and deaths disproportionately impacting Black and Hispanic people, younger age groups, and populations with lower socioeconomic status. Structural racism and poverty, limited access to quality health care, substandard housing, and environmental pollution contribute to asthma rate disparities.

Allergens, substances that cause allergies, can trigger asthma. Common allergens exacerbating asthma include dust mites, cockroaches, pollen, molds, animal dander, and rodents. Air pollution and airborne irritants from things such as chemicals, vapors, or tobacco smoke, can also trigger asthma as can exercise, respiratory infections, and weather.

The Department is working to reduce the burden of asthma in collaboration with the American Lung Association, local health departments, schools and school districts, community-based organizations, health care organizations, and provider partners statewide.

The NYS Children's Asthma Initiative, a joint effort of the NYS Asthma Control Program and the American Lung Association supported with state funding, aims to address health equity and advance evidence-based strategies shown to reduce the burden of asthma. Statewide efforts focus on advancing EXHALE, a set of six evidence-based, cost-effective strategies recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Asthma Control Program. These strategies aim to improve asthma-related health outcomes, prevent avoidable emergency department visits and hospitalizations, and improve the quality of life among children with asthma and their families and caregivers.

The New York State Healthy Neighborhoods Program (HNP) seeks to reduce the burden of housing-related illness and injury through a holistic, healthy home approach. The program provides in-home assessments and interventions for asthma, tobacco cessation, indoor air quality, lead, fire safety, and other environmental health hazards in selected communities throughout New York. The program targets housing in high-risk areas identified using housing, health, and socioeconomic indicators from census and surveillance data.

The NYS Asthma Control Program in collaboration with the State Education Department created A Guide for Asthma Management in Schools to provide information and resources to assist school personnel in helping students with asthma remain healthy, optimize learning, and participate fully in school. The guide is designed for school and district employees, parents or guardians, members of local school boards, and leaders of organizations interested in childhood asthma management.

The Department reminds New Yorkers that asthma can be managed, and the disease does not have to restrict living a healthy and active life.

Information about asthma burden in New York can be found here.

New York's Action Against Asthma can be found here.

Educational Resources for managing asthma can be found here.

A brochure about environmental asthma triggers can be found here.