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Explore national- and state-level data for hundreds of health, environmental and socioeconomic measures, including background information about each measure. Use features on this page to find measures; view subpopulations, trends and rankings; and download and share content.
United States Value:
Percentage of adults who reported ever being told by a health professional that they have asthma
Percentage of adults with difficulty with self-care who reported ever being told by a health professional that they have asthma
18.2% - 20.8%
20.9% - 23.6%
23.7% - 25.0%
25.1% - 27.5%
27.6% - 37.7%
No Data
US Value: 10.9 %
Top State(s): California: 8.1 %
Bottom State(s): Oregon: 14.2 %
Definition: Percentage of adults who reported ever being told by a health professional that they have asthma
Data Source and Years(s): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2024
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2026.
Asthma is a serious chronic disease that affects the lungs. Asthma can cause symptoms such as wheezing, difficulty breathing and coughing. Common asthma triggers include tobacco smoke, dust mites, outdoor air pollution, pets and mold. Risk factors for asthma include allergies, childhood respiratory infections and family history of asthma. A person can be diagnosed with asthma at any point in their life.
Asthma is associated with 14.2 million lost work days among adults in the United States each year. In 2013, asthma cost the U.S. an estimated $81.9 billion in medical costs and missed school or work days.
According to America’s Health Rankings analysis, the prevalence of asthma is higher among:
Additionally, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s Asthma Disparities in America report found that:
A doctor can determine if a person has asthma by asking questions about their breathing and family history. The doctor might perform a spirometry test to see how well the lungs work. Asthma symptoms can be controlled by following your doctor’s advice and avoiding asthma triggers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone with asthma develop an Asthma Action Plan with their health care provider to help prevent and control asthma attacks. Sometimes, an allergist is required to better manage symptoms and prevent asthma attacks. The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology has a locator tool to help find an allergist near you.
Healthy People 2030 has multiple objectives related to respiratory disease, including:
“Asthma Disparities in America: A Roadmap to Reducing Burden on Racial and Ethnic Minorities.” Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 2020. https://aafa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/asthma-disparities-in-america-burden-by-race-ethnicity-executive-summary.pdf.
Nurmagambetov, Tursynbek, Robin Kuwahara, and Paul Garbe. “The Economic Burden of Asthma in the United States, 2008–2013.” Annals of the American Thoracic Society 15, no. 3 (March 2018): 348–56. https://doi.org/10.1513/AnnalsATS.201703-259OC.
America’s Health Rankings builds on the work of the United Health Foundation to draw attention to public health and better understand the health of various populations. Our platform provides relevant information that policymakers, public health officials, advocates and leaders can use to effect change in their communities.
We have developed detailed analyses on the health of key populations in the country, including women and children, seniors and those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, in addition to a deep dive into health disparities across the country.
