Suffolk: May Designated 'Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month'

HAUPPAUGE, NY — May was officially declared "Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month" in Suffolk County after the Legislature unanimously passed a resolution sponsored by Legislator Susan A. Berland, her office announced Tuesday.

Asthma and allergies are among the nation’s most common and costly health conditions, affecting millions of Americans each year — roughly 24.7 million have asthma as of 2018, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The disease affects the lungs and can be chronic and lifelong. Symptoms of asthma can include,
but are not limited to: wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and coughing. Asthmatic symptoms are sometimes exacerbated by allergic reactions to allergens such as pets, pollen, trees, grass, mold, dust and others which can cause serious reactions for those who suffer from these ailments.

"There is no better time to bring awareness to allergies and asthma," Berland stated in a news release. "Given the COVID-19 pandemic, it is understandable and reasonable that many people with allergies and asthma are conflating their symptoms with those of the novel coronavirus. It is of utmost importance that Suffolk County residents who suffer from these ailments be proactive in the treatment of their conditions in consultation with their healthcare providers and ensure that their respiratory health is being maintained. Respiratory health should be at the forefront of
everyone’s minds right now, which makes the passage of ‘Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month’ particularly timely."

Suffolk County has over 19,000 cases of pediatric asthma and over 119,000 cases of adult asthma, Anne Little, director of health promotions for the American Lung Association, said in the release, drawing on data from the American Lung Association’s State of the Air 2020 Report.

"Given today’s public health crisis, it is more important than ever for patients to understand
respiratory illnesses like asthma, along with its risk factors, warning signs and management options," Little said. "Today’s declaration making May ‘Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month’ will help our team at the Asthma Coalition of Long Island, which is funded by the New York State Department of Health, to continue to provide potentially life-saving education and awareness to the Long Island community."