National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month Empowers Individuals and Communities
April 30 2024 - 10:22AM
Since 1984, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has
designated May as National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. This
year, AAFA is focusing on empowering individuals and communities by
providing resources, education, and opportunities for
advocacy.
“On behalf of the more
than 100 million people in the U.S. with asthma and/or allergies,
we want to focus attention this month on ways to improve health and
quality of life,” said Kenneth Mendez, President and CEO of AAFA.
“We’ll be spending the month of May sharing practical tips for
managing asthma and allergies as well as offering policy solutions
to public health challenges. We encourage people with asthma and
allergies, their friends, and their families to join us. Together
we can raise awareness and make a difference for our
community.”
AAFA’s work includes
asthma education, research on asthma and allergies, and advocacy on
behalf of people with asthma and/or allergies. Throughout May, AAFA
will present focused themes that raise awareness of asthma and
allergies. These include:
- May 7: World Asthma Day - This year’s theme is Asthma
Education Empowers. AAFA will co-host a Congressional briefing on
the CDC’s National Asthma Control Program (NACP) to celebrate its
25th anniversary. The NACP funds asthma education in 25 state,
territorial, and municipal health departments.
- May 6-10: Air Quality
and Asthma Awareness Week - The climate crisis
is urgent and AAFA’s Allergy Capitals Report makes clear the
negative impacts of climate change on public health. Air pollution
contributes to worsening air quality and increased pollen
production, both of which trigger asthma.
- May 12-18: Food Allergy Awareness Week - Visit the Kids
with Food Allergies website for fact sheets, images, and
activities, including an Ask the Allergist webinar to learn about
food allergy basics and treatments.
- May 19-25: Type 2 Inflammation Week and Eosinophil Awareness
Week - Learn about Type 2 inflammation, a chronic immune
response that drives asthma, atopic dermatitis, food allergies,
nasal polyps, and eosinophilic esophagitis
(EoE).
- May 24: Remembrance Day – a day to honor family members
and loved ones who’ve died from asthma or
anaphylaxis.
- May 26-31: Advocacy Week – We'll be sharing
concrete actions you can take to impact public policy and public
health, including building on the momentum from our successful
advocacy to lower the cost of asthma inhalers.
For more information,
including a full calendar of events, fact sheets, infographics, and
more: aafa.org/awareness.
“People interested in
engaging in Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month should stay tuned to
our website (aafa.org/awareness) and our social media channels to
find ways to get involved throughout the month,” said Melanie
Carver, chief mission officer at AAFA. “With a focus on
empowerment, we’ll offer a variety of ways individuals and
communities can make a difference.”
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About
AAFA Founded in 1953, AAFA is the oldest and largest
non-profit patient organization dedicated to saving lives and
reducing the burden of disease for people with asthma, allergies,
and related conditions through research, education, advocacy, and
support. AAFA offers extensive support for individuals and families
affected by asthma and allergic diseases, such as food allergies
and atopic dermatitis (eczema). Through its online patient support
communities, network of regional chapters, and collaborations with
community-based groups, AAFA empowers patients and their families
by providing practical, evidence-based information and community
programs and services. AAFA is the only asthma and allergy patient
advocacy group that is certified to meet the standards of
excellence set by the National Health Council. For more
information, visit: aafa.org and kidswithfoodallergies.org
AAFA’s
patient community contributed to several
comprehensive studies that detail the daily life challenges of
living with asthma and allergic diseases:
Life with Eczema: More
Than Skin Deep
Little Airway Big Voices:
Voice of the Patient Report on Asthma in Childhood
Food Allergies: Voice of
the Patient Report
Life with Eosinophilic
Esophagitis
Life with Nasal
Polyps
My Life with
Asthma
My Life with Food
Allergy
- National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
- Food Allergy Awareness
Andy Spears
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
2029741223
media@aafa.org