Although most people who have asthma can live a healthy life as long as they take the proper medications to treat the condition, it can lead to serious complications and even death. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) states that 185 children and 3,262 adults died from this chronic respiratory disease in 2007. Additionally, says the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), each day in the United States, 4,700 people visit the emergency room due to asthma-related complications.
According to local source News9, an Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, teenager fell into a coma on the evening of January 31 after passing out while warming up for a basketball game a few days earlier. On January 28, 15-year-old Karisma Taylor expressed to her coaches that she was having trouble breathing and was told go outside and get some air. During that time, the teenager – who suffers from asthma – passed out on the sidewalk.
Taylor’s family members told the source that the coaches didn’t take her health issues seriously and that the girl lay on the sidewalk unconscious for more than 10 minutes before the school called for help. According to paramedics who responded to the call, Taylor was in full cardiac arrest when they arrived. Doctors at OU Medical Center say she is in critical condition and they have little hope that she will ever wake up.
“Precious seconds mean everything. If they could have [gotten] to her at least six, seven minutes sooner, she may be with us, talking now,” Taylor’s aunt, Alfreda Smith, told the source.
Asthma is a condition that needs to be taken seriously in order to prevent tragedies such as this one. Fortunately, in addition to seeing a doctor, there are simple products you can invest in to help eliminate the presence of certain triggers. A whole house air purifier can remove common irritants such as pet dander and dust mites directly from the air.
