UNC Students Among 20 Million U.S. Asthma Sufferers
By Julia Meyer

While UNC is tackling some of the bigger diseases, there's something you should know about an illness that's more common.

Summer smog isn't what triggers most asthma attacks.

Researchers at the American Lung Association say attacks occur more often when students are confined to small spaces such as classrooms.

The close contact makes it easy to pass germs from one person to another.

Attacks can also be triggered by indoor pollution from air vents, as well as cleaning products.

UNC Senior Anna Privette takes extra precaution to keep her asthma under control when she goes to class.

“I make sure to keep my inhaler with me at all times. I keep it in my backpack just in case I have an attack,” Privette said.

More than 20 million Americans suffer from asthma.