Asthma - Women

Asthma - Women in United States

United States

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the lungs and can cause wheezing, difficulty breathing and coughing. Although deaths due to asthma are relatively rare and generally preventable, more than 3,500 people died from asthma in 2021. Risk factors for asthma include exposure to common triggers, such as tobacco smoke, air pollution, dust and mold, as well as having allergies, frequent respiratory infections or a family history of asthma. 

The prevalence of asthma is higher among women than men. Changing levels of hormones throughout the menstrual cycle may worsen asthmatic symptoms. Pregnant women with asthma have a higher risk for various pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, placental abruption, premature birth and low birth weight.

According to America’s Health Rankings data, the prevalence of asthma is higher among:

• Women ages 18-24 compared with women ages 25-34. 
• Multiracial and American Indian/Alaska Native women compared with Asian women, who have the lowest prevalence. 
• Women with some post-high school education compared with women with less than a high school education, those with a high school degree or GED diploma and college graduates.
• Women with a household income less than $25,000 compared with those with higher income levels; women with incomes of $75,000 or more have the lowest prevalence of asthma.

Although there is no cure, asthma can be managed by identifying and avoiding specific asthma triggers and creating a plan with a health care provider. Having a professional perform a healthy home environment assessment can reduce exposure to allergens, improve air quality and ease asthma symptoms. An asthma specialist or allergist may further help people with asthma understand and manage their symptoms and prevent attacks. The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology has a tool to help find a local allergist.

Healthy People 2030 has multiple objectives related to respiratory health and asthma, including:

• Reducing asthma attacks.
• Reducing deaths from asthma.
• Reducing emergency department visits for people with asthma.

Mendola, Pauline, S. Katherine Laughon, Tuija I. Männistö, Kira Leishear, Uma M. Reddy, Zhen Chen, and Jun Zhang. 2013. “Obstetric Complications among US Women with Asthma.” American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 208 (2): 127.e1-127.e8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2012.11.007.