CLEARFIELD — About one in every 12 people in Utah have asthma, say health officials.
And Davis County is not immune.
Since 2001, the prevalence of asthma has been increasing in Utah, similar to increasing trends nationwide, said Bonnie Athas, Davis County Health Department health promotion bureau manager.
Almost half, 49.6 percent, of adults in Davis County who have ever been diagnosed with asthma were diagnosed by age 17, according to the Utah Department of Health’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
In response to that, the Davis County Health Department, along with members of the Utah Asthma Task Force, will host a town hall meeting at 6 p.m., on Wednesday, Nov. 2, at the North Davis Senior Activity Center, 42 S. State Street, Clearfield.
This town hall meeting will give residents a chance to speak out on how asthma affects daily life, share issues and concerns, and discuss what asthma-related resources or services are needed in the community, Athas said.
Asthma is a disease that affects your lungs. It is one of the most common long-term diseases of children, but adults have asthma too, Athas said.
Asthma causes repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing.
“If you have asthma, you have it all the time, but you will have asthma attacks only when something bothers your lungs,” Athas said.
The amount of time people spend indoors can play a significant role in triggering asthma attacks.
Having carpet or rugs in the bedroom and pets in the home are identified as the two most prevalent indoor environmental exposures for adults and children. Athas said.
Tobacco smoke and air quality are also factors that can affect asthma.
For more information contact 801-525-5099.
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