Asthma Awareness Month – Show How You Care About the Air

May, which is well into ozone season in many regions in Texas, is also Asthma Awareness Month — an opportunity for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and health partners to educate Americans on asthma health risks and prevention strategies.

Asthma is a condition in which inflamed airways make it difficult for a person to breathe, and smog may be a trigger for asthma attacks. According to the American Lung Association, almost 26 million Americans have asthma, including more than seven million children.

Asthma and other health issues such as lung disease are directly affected by air quality. Asthma Awareness Month is kicked off by Air Quality Awareness Week, a week that health officials use to spread awareness of the effects of air quality on human health. The week included celebrating champions of asthma education and prevention by announcing the winners of EPA’s National Leadership Awards in Asthma Management on May 3^rd. These recipients have developed national models for effective asthma care.

This year, Air Quality Awareness Week’s theme is “Show How You Care About the Air.” Events highlighted state and local events, the connection between asthma and air quality, trends in air quality, and citizen science. You can participate and learn more through social media on the AirNow Facebook page and by using the hashtag #careforyourair.

Texas is on the front lines of many air quality issues and EDF works with private, public, and non-profit partners on reducing air pollution and protecting public health. Together, we can help improve air quality and reduce the risk of asthma attacks.