[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”News T-Hero Section” _builder_version=”4.17.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/aafa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/AAFA-Website_Tertiary_News.jpg” background_position=”top_right” custom_padding=”1%||1%||true|false” global_module=”2297″ saved_tabs=”all” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_image=”off” background_size=”initial” background_position=”bottom_left” background_horizontal_offset=”0%” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”2%||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Nav Parent Title” module_class=”tert-parent” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”|600|||||||” header_2_text_align=”left” header_2_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_2_font_size=”32px” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code admin_label=”Breadcrumbs” module_class=”bcrumb” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_orientation=”left” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_css_main_element=”font-size:16px;||color: #fff;” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Main Content” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_image=”off” background_size=”initial” background_position=”bottom_right” custom_padding=”2%||2%||true|false” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Title Row” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_post_title author=”off” comments=”off” featured_image=”off” admin_label=”Blog Post Title” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h2″ title_font=”|600|||||||” title_text_color=”#008C99″ title_font_size=”39px” meta_font=”|700|||||||” meta_text_color=”#505050″ meta_font_size=”20px” title_font_size_tablet=”30px” title_font_size_phone=”26px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” meta_font_size_tablet=”20px” meta_font_size_phone=”16px” meta_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Content Row” module_class=”blog-single” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Post Content” module_class=”secondary-intro” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#505050″ text_line_height=”1.5em” header_2_font=”|600|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008c99″ header_2_font_size=”39px” custom_margin=”||3%||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Intersection between health, climate, and equity magnifies need<\/em><\/p>\n Washington, D.C., March 31, 2022<\/strong> \u2013 Today, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) requested President Biden to proclaim May as \u201cNational Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month.\u201d<\/p>\n National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month is a time to educate patients, family, friends, co- workers, and others about these diseases impacting more than 65 million Americans. AAFA believes that calling on President Biden to proclaim May \u201cNational Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month\u201d will raise awareness about asthma and allergies, help people understand the link between climate change and health, and support the Administration\u2019s immediate priorities in climate, health care, racial equity, and the economy.<\/p>\n \u201cCalling attention to allergies and asthma conveys the themes of President Biden\u2019s priorities in a way that all Americans will understand. People feel their asthma and allergies getting worse from increased air pollution and ground-level ozone, wildfire smoke, and mold from extreme weather events,\u201d says Kenneth Mendez, CEO and president of AAFA. \u201cIn terms of racial equity, Black Americans are three times more likely to die from asthma, five times more likely to be treated in an emergency room for asthma, and Black women have the highest rate of death from asthma when compared to any racial group. Asthma costs the US economy at least $50 billion in healthcare costs alone and is one of the top reasons for missed school days among children.\u201d<\/p>\n AAFA\u2019s recently released Allergy Capitals Report named President Biden\u2019s hometown, Scranton, Pennsylvania as the most challenging city in the U.S. for pollen allergies for the second year in a row. The report explains how seasonal allergies have worsened because of climate change. Growing seasons are longer and warmer, leading to higher pollen counts, a main factor causing seasonal allergies in millions of Americans. Allergies can also be a trigger for asthma, a chronic disease that is sometimes fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 25 million Americans have asthma. Annual deaths from asthma increased from over 3,500 people in 2019 to over 4,100 people in 2020.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m heartbroken to see that the CDC\u2019s count of annual deaths from asthma rose to over 4,100 people,\u201d says Melanie Carver, Chief Mission Officer of AAFA. \u201cIf we want to reverse this trend, we must all raise awareness and urgently advocate for policies that address climate change, improve access to health care, and remove structural barriers that interfere with health equity.\u201d<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Press Contact” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#505050″ link_font=”||||on|||#008c99|” link_text_color=”#008c99″ header_2_font=”|600|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008c99″ header_2_font_size=”39px” header_3_font=”|600|||||||” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#008c99″ header_3_font_size=”28px” global_colors_info=”{}”]Press Contact:<\/strong> 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 local chapters and affiliated support 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: www.aafa.org[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" NewsIntersection between health, climate, and equity magnifies need Washington, D.C., March 31, 2022 \u2013 Today, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) requested President Biden to proclaim May as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6795","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-press-releases"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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\nKimberly Rafferty
\nAsthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)
\nmedia@aafa.org[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”About AAFA” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#505050″ link_font=”||||on|||#008c99|” link_text_color=”#008c99″ link_line_height=”1.7em” ul_line_height=”1.7em” header_2_font=”|600|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008c99″ header_2_font_size=”39px” header_3_font=”|600|||||||” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#008c99″ header_3_font_size=”28px” background_color=”#F5EDDF” custom_padding=”4%|4%|4%|4%|true|true” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ global_colors_info=”{}”]About AAFA<\/strong><\/p>\n