Know where to go for asthma care — before it becomes an emergency

May 15, 2026

Asthma is one of the most common health conditions in the United States, affecting more than 31 million adults and children.¹ And in Florida, about 1 in 11 (9.3%) adults and 1 in 14 (7.1%) children currently have asthma.²

When asthma isn’t well controlled, even simple activities can feel hard. The good news? With the right care and support, most people can manage their asthma and stay active.

A quick look at asthma

Asthma is a long-term lung condition. It causes your airways — the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs — to swell and tighten, making it harder to breathe.

Common symptoms include:

• Chest tightness
• Coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing

Triggers are things that can set off or worsen symptoms, such as:

• Air pollution
• Mold
• Pets
• Pollen
• Stress

Asthma in Florida

Asthma doesn’t affect everyone equally — and that’s not by chance.

In Florida and across the U.S., asthma is more common — and often more serious — in communities with lower incomes, communities of color, and neighborhoods with older housing or poorer air quality.

• People in lower-income households are nearly twice as likely to have asthma.

• Black Americans are about five times more likely to go to the emergency room for asthma and about three times more likely to die from it.³

These differences are not about biology — they’re about circumstances that can make asthma harder to control.

Some of these situations include:

• Living in older homes with mold, dust, or pests
• Being near highways or industrial areas with poor air quality
• Having limited access to regular care, medications, or transportation
• Ongoing stress from financial or housing challenges

Why asthma sometimes leads to the ER

Each year, about 1.4 million people in the U.S. visit the emergency room (ER) for asthma.⁴ With the right care and early action, many of these visits can be prevented.

This doesn’t mean you should avoid the ER during a serious attack. It means that with the right plan and early action, you may not need to go at all.

Common reasons people end up in the ER include:

• Not having or using a daily controller medication to help prevent flare-ups

• Running out of medication and not being able to get a refill in time
• Realizing too late that their asthma symptoms are getting worse
• Waiting too long to get help once symptoms worsen
• Not having a regular doctor or clinic or a written Asthma Action Plan

Understanding asthma medications

There are two types of asthma medications. Using them the right way matters, because many ER visits happen when people rely only on rescue inhalers and don’t use a controller medication consistently.

• Controller medications

These are taken every day to prevent symptoms. They reduce inflammation in the airways and help stop flare-ups before they start. They keep your asthma under control, and must be used even when you are not having any symptoms.

• Rescue medications (quick-relief inhalers)

These work fast to open the airways while you have symptoms. They’re for ‘right now’ relief — not daily prevention.

Know where to turn for care

If you have asthma, getting the right care at the right time can make a big difference.

• Primary care doctor

Call your primary care doctor or clinic first. They know your history and can often treat flare-ups early — before they become emergencies. If you have not been seeing your primary doctor regularly, start now — get to know them and allow them to get to know you.

• Virtual care

A convenient option for symptom checks, medication refills, and follow-up care — no travel or waiting room needed. Learn more about virtual visits.

• Urgent care

A good choice for symptoms that need quick attention but aren’t life-threatening.

An emergency room visit typically costs three to five times more than care in a doctor’s office or urgent care — and often involves longer waiting times.⁵ When it’s safe to do so, starting with your primary care doctor can save time, stress, and cost.

Taking control of your asthma

With the right plan and support, asthma can be managed — and your day-to-day life can feel a lot easier.

Here are a few steps you can take today:

• Learn your triggers and track your symptoms
• Work with your primary care doctor to write an Asthma Action Plan
• Use your controller medication every day as prescribed
• Know your care options — including virtual and urgent care
• Take advantage of these tools and other resources
  • Learn more from this BlueAnswers article: Breathe easy: Understanding asthma
  • Living with Asthma brochure
  • Asthma attack decision guide

If you are having a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Sources

¹Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Asthma Capitals: Health Outcomes That Impact Ranking.

²Florida Department of Health. Asthma.

³American Lung Association. The Unequal Burden of Asthma on the Black Community.

⁴CDC FastStats – Asthma.

⁵MedlinePlus: When to use the emergency room.