Asthma Exercise

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Asthma incidence has risen steadily over the past 20 years and directly impacts the lives of millions (U.S.EPA, 2013). Currently, there are about 23 million people, including 7 million children affected by asthma (U.S.EPA, 2014). The Centers for Disease Control indicate an asthma prevalence rate of 8.4% in the United States (CDC, 2011). Additionally, asthma accounts for approximately 500,000 hospitalizations annually. It is also the third highest cause of hospitalization among children under 15. As asthma incidence continue to rise, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) estimate the number of people with asthma to grow more than 100 million by 2025 (U.S.EPA, 2014).
Several different factors have been identified as …show more content…

The effect environmental factors have on the asthmatic populations can be better understood through the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms (Holt, 1998). There has been extensive research over several decades in humans and animals yielding studies on mechanisms by which ozone exerts its effects. There are two main mechanisms by which asthma inflicted persons are more susceptible to adverse effects of ozone than to those without asthma. The first is that those with preexisting asthma might be more sensitive to ozone. Therefore, they experience respiratory symptoms and lung function changes common to all, but either at a lower concentration or with greater magnitude (U.S. EPA, 2014). Secondly, increased airway reactivity induced by ozone exposure may result in the worsening of a person’s underlying asthma status (U.S. EPA, 2014). Furthermore, repeated exposure to high levels of ozone concentration has been linked to new-onset asthma; individuals without preexisting asthma develop symptoms due to sensitization. Controlled exposure and some epidemiologic studies have demonstrated this response. Concern for excessive ambient ozone levels arises from ground-level ozone’s ability to cause acute respiratory response, significant lung capacity diminishment in at least 10-20% of healthy adults, pulmonary inflammation, impaired immune system, …show more content…

Ozone associated respiratory-related hospital admissions explain an estimated 2 to 3% of total respiratory-related admissions in urban case study locations (U.S. EPA, 2014). With every 4 degree Fahrenheit temperature increase in weather, ozone increases roughly by five percent (Shao, 2008). This is important to recognize throughout the summer months when asthma exacerbations are most frequent and ozone levels are higher. The severity of asthma varies significantly on a daily basis and increases as ozone levels also

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