More than 20 million Americans suffer from asthma and an additional 50 million suffer from seasonal allergies. But both are treatable.
Asthma is one of the most serious chronic diseases in the U.S. It is a disease of the lungs in which the airways become blocked or narrowed causing breathing difficulty.
“Asthma is a serious disease for many people,” says allergist Dr. William Berger. “For many patients a severe allergy attack can be a life threatening event.”
“Hay fever” or seasonal “nasal” allergies occur when the immune system overreacts to allergens such as tree pollen, grass and the most common allergen, ragweed.
"Hhaving seasonal allergies or asthma doesn't mean you can't enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle outdoors," says Angel Waldron of AAFA. “Allergies and asthma are treatable – you just need to take precautions to minimize the risk of allergic reactions or exposure to environmental asthma triggers and visit your primary doctor or allergist to find the right treatment for you."
