North Carolina Asthma Program

The North Carolina Asthma Program strives to reduce the burden of asthma upon the citizens of our state by:

• Developing and maintaining a comprehensive statewide asthma surveillance system.
• Developing and implementing a State Asthma Plan that effectively addresses asthma in all ages, ethnic groups, backgrounds, and in multiple settings.
• Increasing public awareness of the importance of reducing the burden of asthma and the need for supportive policies and environments.
• Providing technical assistance and resources to help support local asthma coalitions.
• Providing leadership and administration for the statewide asthma coalition, the Asthma Alliance of North Carolina (AANC).

Asthma is a disease of the lungs that often leads to repeated episodes of wheezing, chest tightness, breathlessness, and early morning or nighttime coughing. Asthma currently affects approximately 8 percent of adults and approximately 10 percent of children in North Carolina. In 2009, 94 North Carolinians died due to asthma. Asthma impacts all North Carolinians; however, African Americans, Native Americans, women, persons 65 years and older, children under the age of 5 years, and persons living in households with an income less than $15,000 are among the groups most affected by asthma.

Visit us at www.asthma.ncdhhs.gov  and learn more from the Asthma Fact Sheets