Asthma cases on the rise in Hamilton: what's causing the epidemic?

About 2 million people in the United States live with severe asthma. As the seasons change and weather patterns change, many patients experience

Hamilton County Asthma Rise: What's Driving the Rise?

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - About two million people in the United States suffer from severe asthma.

With the change of seasons and the increase in different weather patterns, many patients may experience an asthma attack that results in a trip to the emergency room or hospitalization.

Midwest Allergy, Sinus, Asthma & Respiratory Dr. to discuss severe asthma and new treatment.We spoke to Dareen Siri.

"But the important thing in treating asthma and severe asthma is to reduce unpredictability. So how do we reduce ER visits? How do we reduce hospitalizations? One of the newest drugs that was recently approved by the FDA. It's called Extensure, and it's made by GSK, said Dr. Darin Siri, Midwest Allergy Respiratory Sinus Asthma.

In the Chattanooga metropolitan area, the prevalence of asthma increased from approximately 9.4% in 2019 to 13% in 2021.

In particular, in Hamilton County, about 31,000 adults have asthma.In comparison, nearly 7,300 children in the county are thought to have asthma.

Experts say this is the main reason.

"For some people, it's external factors, like design. And because the rain doesn't mean the smoke goes away. In fact, this is the biggest time that the smoke rises, right after the rain. And right after the thunder, all those who have barometric pressure, turn things around and get that thing, there's that pollen, the mold up in the sick air, said Dr.

The general message that allergists want to reinforce is that it only takes one hospital visit to be considered severe asthma.

Monitor your symptoms and be sure to follow up with your primary care physician.

For more information on asthma, you can visit here.