What's New with AAFA

Growing up, Jerica Gordon’s sister had asthma, but she does not remember her having any asthma attacks. “So when my son was having trouble breathing, I thought it was just congestion or something. There was no wheezing that I remember hearing,” she shared. In November 2016, Jerica took her son Jonathan Robinson, Jr., then age 5, to the emergency room.

On June 11, 2019, in Oakland, California, the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) and its California Technology Assessment Forum (CTAF) met to assess the clinical effectiveness and value of treatments for peanut allergy. The review examined two new technologies to induce immune tolerance — Viaskin® Peanut (DBV Technologies) and AR101 (Aimmune Therapeutics) — as well as non-commercialized oral immunotherapy (OIT).

Four years ago, Deborah Bartlett of New Haven, Connecticut (overall #11 on Asthma Capitals), was diagnosed with severe persistent asthma. Combined with her pollen and mold allergies, as well as COPD, breathing can be a real challenge.

Jessica Barber Brown and her son Isaac, age 11, live about 45 minutes outside of Louisville, Kentucky (overall #7 on Asthma Capitals), in Lawrenceburg. Both Jessica and Isaac have asthma and allergies.

Asthma is the third-leading cause of hospital stays in children. Hospitalizations among children are higher during Asthma Peak Week in September when children return to school and are exposed to more asthma triggers, allergens and respiratory infections.

We urge Congress to support the School-Based Allergies and Asthma Management Program Act (H.R. 2468) to put important protections in place for children with asthma and allergies.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) conducted the My Life With Asthma survey to highlight the challenges people with asthma, especially severe asthma, face. We found that people with asthma have concerns beyond their physical health. Many deal with fear and worry.

Asthma and allergies affect more than 60 million Americans. Allergic disease, which includes asthma, is the fifth leading chronic disease in the U.S. They can impact you socially, emotionally and financially. But asthma and allergies don't have to define you. But working with your doctor and following your treatment plan, you can thrive and do many of the things you enjoy doing.

Lakia Shavon Lightner has vivid memories from her childhood of visits to the emergency room at 2 in the morning. She has had severe asthma and allergies for as long as she can remember. She grew up in Hartford, but now lives in East Hartford, Connecticut, our #13 Asthma Capital for 2019.

National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month is under way! Thank you for all you’re doing to help us raise awareness about asthma and allergies. There's still time to enter our More Than Asthma photo sharing contest! By sharing your photo, you can raise awareness and have a chance to win a “healthier home” package.

During National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, there are many ways to educate others about asthma and allergies and what it’s like to live with them. We offer several tools and ideas to help you get involved. As part of this year’s focus, More Than Asthma, we want to highlight Leo Ignacio "Nacho" Adams. Faced with severe asthma from since he was an infant, Nacho's determination helped him become an active teenager, despite the odds.

May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. Join us as we raise awareness about asthma and allergies. More than 25 million people in the U.S. with asthma. Ten people die every day from asthma. But with the right education and treatment, the deaths are preventable. Together, we can educate others about the seriousness of asthma.