Albany, NY (WIBX) - According to a new study by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, eleven percent of adults in the region have asthma, 1.3 percent higher than the statewide average.

Excellus also outlined groups with higher asthma risks, including women, blacks, young adults and those making less than $15,000 per year.

Dr. Frank Dubeck, chief medical officer for Medical Policy at Excellus, says although asthma rates are higher here, with the right precautions, they can keep from ending up in the hospital.

431,000 adults in Upstate New York have asthma, with direct medical costs totaling nearly $800 million annually.

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