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 3,600 people in the United States died from asthma in 2023. Risk factors for asthma include having allergies, frequent respiratory infections or a family history of asthma, as well as exposure to common triggers such as tobacco smoke, air pollution, dust and mold. 

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 are at higher risk for various pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, placental abruption, premature birth and low birth weight. Maintaining control of asthma throughout a pregnancy reduces the risk of these complications.

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

• Multiracial, American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, white and other race women compared with Asian women, who have the lowest prevalence.
• Women with some post-high school education compared with college graduates.
• Women with an annual household income less than $75,000 compared with those at higher income levels.
• Women living in nonmetropolitan areas compared with those in metropolitan areas.
• Women who have difficulty with self-care and mobility compared with women without a disability.
• LGBQ+ women than straight women.

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. The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends using text messages as an intervention to remind and encourage patients to take medications. 

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. 

Pregnant women with asthma should attend regular prenatal appointments with their health care provider. This allows for close monitoring of asthma symptoms and timely medication adjustments if necessary, as asthma symptoms commonly change during pregnancy. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology has also developed a toolkit with helpful resources, such as Breathe 4 Baby, which is designed to help pregnant or nursing people manage asthma throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period.

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. “Obstetric Complications among US Women with Asthma.” American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 208, no. 2 (February 2013): 127.e1-127.e8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2012.11.007.