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National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
Since 1984, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has designated May to be National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. It’s a time to focus on respiratory and immune health. The awareness month aims to educate the public about asthma and allergic diseases, risk factors, symptoms, and treatment.
Countdown to National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
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The Power of Community to Improve Asthma and Allergy Health
Asthma and allergies are best managed with a community of support. Everyone from your friends and loved ones, your health care team, school staff, employers, advocates, and lawmakers can be part of your community.
Having a community of support leads to better management of your symptoms, healthier and more accommodating spaces, more treatment options, and better policies which all lead to better quality of life.
This May, we are raising awareness of the collective power we have when we come together to improve the lives of people living with asthma and allergies. Everyone can make a difference!
We invite you to join with us throughout May to spread the word. Watch this page for more information on ways you can take part.
Want to raise awareness now? Become an advocate or donate to our mission.
More than 100 million people in the United States have asthma and/or allergies.
28M
People with asthma
20M
People with food allergies
81M
People with nasal allergies
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Fact Sheets
More than 100 million people in the United States have asthma and/or allergies. Some people may have more than 1 of these conditions.
- Over 28 million people in the U.S. have asthma (over 23 million adults and about 4.9 million children).1,2
- About 20 million people in the U.S. have food allergies (16 million adults and 4 million children).3,4
- About 81 million people in the U.S. have rhinitis due to nasal allergies, also called “hay fever” (67 million adults and 114 million children).3,4
- Around 18.9 million adults and 8 million children in the U.S. have eczema.5,6
- There is no cure for asthma or allergies.
Download PDFs
Asthma Facts and Figures
Allergy Facts and Figures
Allergic Skin Conditions Facts and Figures
Food Allergy Facts and Figures
Nasal Polyps Facts and Figures
Awareness Ribbons
Help raise visibility on asthma and allergies by changing your profile pics for the month of May!
Shareable Images
You can download these images and copy the caption to post to social media. We have many shareable images throughout our website. Here are some of our favorites:
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Advocacy Toolkit
Advocacy is speaking out on issues that you care about or offering your opinion and suggestions for how to improve something to the people who are in control. It is important for policymakers to hear directly from you about your experiences.
To help you get started, AAFA has some toolkits to help you find your elected officials and communicate with them.
Download PDFs
Modernizing Epinephrine Stocking Laws
Child Care Policies for Food Allergy: Elijah’s Law Report for U.S. States and Territories (toolkit starts on page 16)
2024 Asthma Capitals™ – Most Challenging Places to Live with Asthma (toolkit starts on page 34)
2025 State Honor Roll™ of Asthma and Allergy Policies for Schools (toolkit starts on page 22)
References
- National Center for Health Statistics. NHIS Adult Summary Health Statistics. Data accessed October 7, 2024. Available from https://data.cdc.gov/d/25m4-6qqq
- National Center for Health Statistics. NHIS Child Summary Health Statistics. Data accessed October 7, 2024. Available from https://data.cdc.gov/d/wxz7-ekz9
- Ng, A.E. & Boersma, P. (2023). NCHS Data Brief, no 460: Diagnosed allergic conditions in adults: United States, 2021. National Center for Health Statistics. https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:122809
- Zablotsky, B., Black, L.I., & Akinbami, L.J.(2023). NCHS Data Brief, no 459: Diagnosed allergic conditions in children aged 0-17 years: United States, 2021. National Center for Health Statistics. https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:123250
- Eczema in Skin of Color: What You Need to Know. (2018, February 16). National Eczema Association. https://nationaleczema.org/blog/eczema-in-skin-of-color/
- FLG Gene: MedlinePlus Genetics. (n.d.). MedlinePlus. Retrieved September 11, 2024, from https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/flg/#conditions
Related Upcoming Events
Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month 2026 Begins
Since 1984, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has declared May as “National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month.” It is a peak season for people with asthma and […]
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