Asthma Rate Up 12% in Last Decade

The number of Americans with asthma increased 12% between 2001 and 2009, a new report says. Now about 25 million Americans have the disease. The U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention released the report. It says the increase was especially sharp among black children. Their asthma rate jumped almost 50%. Now about 17% of U.S. black children have asthma. That’s the highest for any racial or ethnic group. Drugs to treat the disease are available. But still 50% of those with asthma have severe attacks. And only 1 out of 9 people without health insurance can afford to buy medicine, the report says. Health officials don’t know why rates are rising. But the report listed steps that may help. These include laws to prevent indoor smoking, education on how to avoid asthma triggers and more use of appropriate medicines. HealthDay News wrote about the report May 3.