TAKE ASTHMA SERIOUSLY
ASTHMA IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that can be successfully controlled with proper care. Common symptoms include coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Five steps people with asthma can take to help stay healthy and lead fully active lives:
Quick New Hampshire Asthma Facts: (from data currently available,
NH Asthma Control Program
)
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According to 2005 BRFSS survey data, approximately 14.7% of New Hampshire adults reported they had been told "sometime during their life" that they had asthma. 10.3% (or 103,500 NH residents) reported they still had asthma.
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In 2004, there were approximately 5,500 asthma-related emergency room visits by New Hampshire residents, which incurred approximately $4 million in total charges. Individuals age 15 to 34 had the highest rate of asthma-related emergency room visits that year.
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In 2004, there were 940 asthma-related hospitalizations, which resulted in 3317 days spent in the hospital and total charges of $4.2 million. Children under the age of 5 and adults aged 65 or older had the highest rates of hospitalization for asthma.
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The asthma hospitalization rate among females was approximately two times higher than the rate among males each year from 1996-2004. Females also had higher rates of emergency department visits and death due to asthma during this period.
Data for towns and smaller populations, such as racial and ethnic minorities, are not available at this time. In the coming years, the NH Asthma Control Program will expand the data sources for tracking asthma and work on performing analyses that can describe local level data and smaller populations.
For more data and information on asthma, please download the following
reports and plans developed by the
NH Asthma Control Program
in
Adobe® PDF
file format.
A resource for NH communities to learn more about available data and how to access it is the project,
Empowering Communities,
featuring the NH Health Data Inventory and Community Based Health Improvement Tools.
Tel: 603/862-1241, -1128.
Asthma Resources in New Hampshire
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NH Asthma Control Program.
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29 Hazen Drive Concord, NH 03301-6504
Toll Free: 1-800-852-3345
Phone: 603-271-0855
TDD: 1-800-735-2964
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Breathe NH
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9 Cedarwood Drive Unit 12
Bedford, NH 03110
Phone: 603-669-2411
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Manchester's Asthma Website
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Lung Health Call Center, a resource of the national American Lung Association:
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Provides access to lung health information and stop smoking assistance. The Call Center is available Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. 8:00 p.m. Voice options are available after hours.
Toll Free: 1-800-548-8252
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Pulmonary Rehabilitation Departments in NH Hospitals
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NH Community Health Centers
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New Hampshire Environmental Health Tracking Program
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Asthma Educators
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Health Insurance and Insurer Disease Management Programs
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Chronic Conditions Information Network of VT and NH
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Provides a wide array of regional resources for people living with asthma and other chronic conditions.
Regional Resources
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Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America:
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NE Chapter: Contact by calling
Toll free 1-877-2-ASTHMA (877/227-8462) or
617/965-7771
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Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
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1 Congress Street, Suite 1100
Boston, MA 02114-2023
Toll Free: 888/372-7341
Outside of New England 617/918-1111
Environmental Emergencies 800/424-8802
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New England Asthma Regional Council:
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The Medical Foundation
622 Washington Street, 2nd Floor
Dorchester, MA 02124
Phone: 617-451-0049 ext. 504
