World Asthma Day: American Lung Association Advocates for Critical Funding, Highlights Free Asthma Education Program

Today, on World Asthma Day, the American Lung Association is advocating for Congress to re-instate the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s National Asthma Control Program. The organization is also highlighting the free Lung Health Navigator program for people with asthma, working to dispel common myths and misinformation surrounding asthma, and spotlighting comprehensive educational programs.

Asthma is a serious lung condition affecting 26.8 million people in the U.S., including 4.5 million children. It causes symptoms such as wheezing, persistent cough, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Through the Breathe Well, Live Well program, the Lung Association offers free support, education and resources to empower adults and caregivers of children living with asthma to lead healthier, more active lives. This includes access to Lung Health Navigators, which include nurses, respiratory therapists and other licensed healthcare professionals, who work one-on-one with individuals with asthma to assess their needs, encourage continued commitment and adherence to medical treatment, access social services, improve communication and prompt reengagement in care. In addition, the program includes membership for the Patient & Caregiver Network.
 
“Too often, asthma is misunderstood or minimized, even though it impacts the lives of millions of Americans every single day,” said Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association. “During Asthma Awareness Month in May and throughout the year, we’re committed to increasing public understanding, promoting access to critical care, and ensuring every person with asthma has the tools and support they need to manage their health and breathe easier. People living with asthma need education, clean air to breathe, federal health care programs and staff that promote and support research and optimal care, and access to quality, affordable healthcare coverage that includes lifesaving medications.”

Empowering Through Education
The American Lung Association provides a wide range of evidence-based educational programs for people with asthma, including: 

• Programs for adults, such as Asthma Basics, and the Patient & Caregiver Network.
• Programs for kids and parents, such as Kickin’ Asthma, Open Airways for Schools and Asthma Super Stars. 
• Programs for healthcare professionals, such as Asthma Basics, Asthma Management Guidelines, the Spirometry 101 course, professional spotlight courses and more.

Despite available treatments, many patients face challenges accessing and affording necessary medications. During Asthma Awareness Month, the Lung Association is advocating for Congress to protect Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) from any cuts, which together cover nearly half of all children with asthma in the U.S. The Association is also advocating for the reinstatement of the lifesaving CDC National Asthma Control Program, which gave funding to states to track rates of asthma and expand activities to better control asthma. This helps us understand how many people in states have asthma and helps more people keep asthma under control, which leads to less asthma-related emergency-room visits, hospitalizations and deaths.

To access asthma resources, educational tools, or to join advocacy efforts, visit Lung.org/asthma-awareness.