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Asthma

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Asthma

Asthma is a serious life-long disease that is caused by swelling (inflammation) in the airways that carry oxygen in and out of the lungs.1 Asthma affects many Michigan residents. In 2018, Michigan had 47,476 emergency department visits for asthma. About one in three of those visits were children less than 18 years old (MiTracking Data Portal).

Asthma data for emergency department visits and hospitalizations are available on the MiTracking data portal.

  • People who have asthma have airways that are very sensitive. The things that make symptoms start are called "triggers." Triggers make airways swell, tighten up, and make extra mucus. Triggers make it hard to breathe.1

    Learn more about asthma triggers, visit MDHHS - Asthma in Michigan.

  • Some common symptoms of asthma are1:

    • Coughing
    • Shortness of breath
    • Tightness or heaviness in your chest
    • Wheezing

    If symptoms persist after taking asthma medication, and the person has trouble walking, talking in whole sentences or has a dusky, bluish color to lips and nail beds, get help right away.

    It's rare, but people do die from asthma, and these deaths can be prevented.

    Learn more about asthma symptoms, visit MDHHS - Asthma in Michigan.

  • Asthma cannot be cured, but symptoms can be prevented and controlled by staying away from triggers and using medications the right way.1

    For information on Asthma Control, visit MDHHS - Asthma in Michigan.

    • Tune into your local TV and radio stations. Some stations provide air quality forecasts to let you know when air pollutants like ozone and particulate matter (PM2.5) levels could be harmful to your health.
    • Download the EPA AirNow app on your smart devices for current air quality conditions.
  • Asthma MiTracking Indicators:

    • Emergency department visits
    • Hospitalizations due to asthma

    MiTracking Data Can Tell Us

    • The numbers and rates of asthma hospitalizations and ED visits in Michigan by year, age group, and gender.
    • If asthma hospitalization and ED rates are going up or down over time.
    • If part of the population is at higher risk of asthma.

    MiTracking Data Cannot Tell Us

    • What causes asthma, or what makes people get medical care for asthma.
    • The total number of people affected, cost, effect, result, or consequence of asthma.

    Find Out More

    The emergency department visits dataset was processed and created using data from the Michigan Outpatient Database (MODB) obtained with permission from the Michigan Health and Hospitalization Association (MHA) Service Corporation. The hospitalization dataset was created from the Michigan Inpatient Database (MIDB). MIDB is a database of all hospitalizations at acute care hospitals in Michigan.  

    For more data information, visit:

  • Asthma Initiative of Michigan (AIM)

    Homepage

    AirNow

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

    Asthma

    Climate and Health

    National Environmental Public Health Tracking (Tracking Program)

    Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

    Asthma

    Climate Change

    Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)

    Climate and Energy

    Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)

    Asthma in Michigan

    Michigan Climate and Health Adaptation Program (MICHAP)

    MiTracking - Asthma (fact sheet)

  • 1) MDHHS. Asthma in Michigan. https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/0,5885,7-339-71550_2955_48758---,00.html Accessed May 22, 2024.