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ASTHMA
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder
of the airways producing episodes of wheezing, chest tightness,
shortness
of breath, and coughing. Episodes are triggered by allergens,
tobacco smoke and other irritants, exercise, and infections
of the respiratory tract. With effective management, however,
persons with asthma can enjoy normal activities of daily
living.
In 2001, women had higher rates of asthma than men.
This disparity was the most pronounced among women aged
64 and
younger, who experienced asthma at nearly twice the rate
of men the same age.
Among U.S. women in 2001, non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic
White females had the highest rates of asthma per 1,000
population (93.3 and 88.5, respectively), followed by
Hispanic women
(68.4) and other non-Hispanic women (54.8).
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