To reduce the toll asthma takes on the nation, the CDC is pushing smoke-free laws and encouraging doctors to do better at prescribing inhaled corticosteroid drugs. It's also encouraging patients to do better at avoiding asthma triggers.

"We have to do a better job educating people about managing their symptoms and how to correctly use medicines to control asthma so they can live longer more productive lives while saving health care costs," CDC Director Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, said in the statement.

Maybe then we can breathe easily.