May is more than just the start of warmer weather—it’s Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, a time to advocate, educate, and breathe a little deeper (literally and figuratively). There are more than 25 million people in the U.S. with asthma and over 100 million affected by various types of allergies.
In this article, we explore why May was chosen for this important campaign and why awareness is so essential—from improving public policy to empowering individuals to speak up for their health. We’ll highlight this year’s national theme, “Your Voice. Your Health.” and share meaningful ways you can participate.
Why May?
May was officially declared Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month in 1984 by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), and it wasn’t a random choice. For much of the U.S., May marks the peak of spring allergy season, when pollen counts skyrocket and asthma symptoms tend to worsen due to environmental triggers.
The combination of blooming trees, grasses, mold, and changing temperatures can make daily life more challenging for people with respiratory conditions. By dedicating this specific month to awareness, AAFA aimed to spotlight the seasonal burden and encourage public education, advocacy, and support while people are experiencing the effects most intensely.
This Year’s Theme: “Your Voice. Your Health.”
The AAFA’s 2025 campaign theme, “Your Voice. Your Health.”, emphasizes the importance of self-advocacy and community engagement. Whether you’re managing your own condition or supporting a loved one, speaking up matters. From asking questions at the doctor’s office to sharing your story online, your voice can lead to better care—not just for yourself, but for others, too.
Self-advocacy means speaking up for your own health needs—asking questions, seeking support, and pushing for the care and conditions you deserve. For those living with asthma or allergies, it can mean everything from requesting accommodations at school or work, to keeping detailed symptom logs, to challenging a misdiagnosis or advocating for environmental changes.
It’s also about knowing your worth. Whether you’re asking your doctor about new treatment options, requesting fragrance-free policies at work, or researching the best air filtration for your home, self-advocacy puts you in the driver’s seat of your health.
This May, let’s normalize asking for clean air, better care, and equitable treatment—for ourselves and each other. Your voice isn’t just valid—it’s powerful. And when we use it, change happens.
How You Can Get Involved
Not sure how to make an impact this Asthma and Allergy Awareness month? Below are some simple, meaningful ways to get involved—whether you’ve got five minutes or want to go all in.
Raise Awareness on Social Media: Just one social media post can make a difference. Share your experience with asthma or allergies, especially if it can help teach others about self advocacy—or repost a helpful fact or tip. Don’t forget to use the hashtags #AsthmaAwarenessMonth and #AllergyAwarenessMonth. AAFA’s online toolkit includes ready-to-use graphics and messages. Finally, consider tagging a few friends and encouraging them to do the same.
Support Clean Air Initiatives: Sign a petition. Email your local representatives. Support legislation for clean school air or emissions reductions which are triggering for asthma sufferers. Even sharing air quality alerts with your community can help build momentum toward healthier environments indoors and out.
Learn More About Your Triggers: Take a few minutes to evaluate your living space. Are your air filters due for replacement? Are there seasonal allergens creeping in through open windows? Could your cleaning products or scented candles be contributing? Changes—like using an air purifier with true HEPA and activated carbon, or switching to unscented products—make a difference.
Donate or Fundraise: Support organizations like the AAFA, the nation’s oldest and leading nonprofit dedicated to asthma and allergy advocacy, education, and research. You can also create a small fundraiser in honor of a loved one affected by asthma or allergies. Facebook fundraisers, bake sales, or even local awareness walks are great ways to raise both money and visibility.
Empathy in Every Breath We Help You Take
At Austin Air, we understand that respiratory distress—whether it’s a severe asthma flare-up or the quiet, persistent discomfort of seasonal allergies—is never “minor” when it’s happening to you or someone you love. That deep empathy fuels everything we do. It’s why we’re relentless about quality, transparency, and performance—not gimmicks.
We have written extensively in this blog about different hazards–from microplastics to the so-called “air purifiers” on the market that promise clean air but deliver harmful byproducts, but we’ve chosen a different path.
Austin Air proudly uses the EPA-recommended combination of medical-grade HEPA and activated carbon, and we don’t cut corners. In fact, Austin Air uses more combined HEPA and more carbon than anyone else in the industry—because doing it right matters.
That same empathy that drives our engineering also powers our customer care. We’re here to serve, support, and breathe alongside our community—because clean air is not a luxury.
This May, let’s all take a collective breath—and commit to making the world a little more breathable for everyone.
