If allergies and asthma impact you or a loved one’s life, you may be looking for opportunities to help. The Allergy & Asthma Center is here to help. Below is a list of simple, yet effective, opportunities to spread awareness year-round:

For Organizations:
Organizations can support by donating to allergy and asthma research or directly contributing resources to patients. Here are just a few related charities you may consider supporting:

• Fight for Clean Air: an advocacy organization that fights for improved air quality with the health of allergy and asthma sufferers in mind.
• Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA): donations to fund asthma research year-round.
• Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA): lists a number of additional research and relief projects that need support from organizations like yours.

For Patients:
Thinking back to when you were first diagnosed, ask yourself: Have my symptoms changed since then, or have they remained the same? Are my current medications working, or do I feel as though I need to update my prescriptions? If your answers suggest you need to make a change to your treatment plan, it is important you touch base with your healthcare provider as soon as you can.

Also, there is never a better time to empower yourself by learning more about your condition. With increasing amounts of educational resources posted by specialists and organizations, there is so much to learn! Visit organizations like the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America for up-to-date information and research.

For Caregivers:
If you are a caretaker to someone living with allergies and asthma, it is equally important for you to take the time to educate yourself about these conditions. Be on the lookout for new articles and research that will help you provide the best support to your loved one.
Additionally, you can participate in awareness and fundraising efforts that can use your individual support, particularly to the organizations listed above. There are several events held across the country to support allergy and asthma awareness, and while 2020 may be a difficult year to accomplish this due to COVID-19 restrictions, it’s a worthy goal to be ready to run when Asthma and Allergy Awareness month in May 2021 comes around.

Additionally, it is important to advocate for your loved ones and address the seriousness of their condition. Because allergies and asthma are common, many who aren’t directly affected by them tend to forget their severity, and they may not understand how important it is to protect and accommodate those who are. When given the opportunity, share these statistics with others: 11 Americans die from complications from asthma each day and an estimated five Americans die every day from an anaphylactic reaction. Use your experiences and your voice to speak out for allergy and asthma sufferers.

For Healthcare Providers:
Allergy and asthma specialists are not the only healthcare providers who care for allergy and asthma patients. Primary care physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, dietitians, community health workers and others are all essential to treating and spreading awareness of these conditions. If you are a healthcare provider, consider utilizing specialized resources to further your education on asthma and allergies so you can better educate your patients or attend conferences and meetings to learn more. It is also important to keep educational resources available in the office for your patients to easily access.