Asthma is a serious, sometimes life-threatening respiratory disease that affects the quality of life for millions of Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, asthma is a rapidly growing public health problem. Here are some interesting statistics:

• More than 22 million people, including 6.7 million children, have asthma.

• 12 million people report having had an asthma attack in the past year.

• Asthma accounts for nearly 15 million outpatient clinic visits, nearly 2 million emergency department visits, and nearly 2000,000 hospitalizations each year.

• Asthma is the third-ranking cause of hospitalization among children under 15.

• On average, one out of every 13 school-aged child has asthma.

• 13 million school days are missed each year due to asthma.

Asthma attacks occur when something irritates the lungs and “triggers” an asthmatic reaction. During an attack, cells in the airways of the lungs make more mucus than normal, which clogs the airways and causes them to become inflamed. As the muscles around the airways tighten, it becomes hard to breathe.

Although there is no cure for asthma yet, asthma can be controlled through medical treatment and by managing environmental triggers. An important key in managing asthma effectively is knowing your particular “triggers.”

For example, because Americans spend up to 90 percent of their time indoors, indoor allergens and irritants can play a significant role in triggering asthma attacks. Things like mold growing on your shower curtain or tiny dust mites that live in blankets, pillow, or your child’s stuffed animals are common triggers.

Once you know what triggers your asthma, you can take steps to reduce exposure to triggers and decrease the frequency and severity of your asthma attacks. If you have asthma, talk to your doctor to set up an asthma management plan. Together, you and your doctor can monitor your asthma, determine common triggers and how to avoid them, and access the best medications to treat your asthma.

• Lynda Metz is the director of community development at BGH. The facts and statistics in this article were provided by the CDC and Prevention and the EPA. For information, visit www.cdc.gov or www.epa.gov.