Minority Women's Health

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Asthma

Minority Women's Health > African Americans > Health Topics > Asthma

Asthma is a disease of the lung airways. With asthma, the airways are inflamed (swollen) and react easily to certain "triggers," like viruses, smoke, dust, mold, animal hair, roaches, or pollen. When the inflamed airways react, they get narrow and make it hard to breathe.

Common asthma symptoms are:

• coughing, especially at night
• wheezing — a whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe
• shortness of breath (feeling like you can't get enough air)
• chest tightness, pain, or pressure
• faster breathing or noisy breathing

When these symptoms get worse, you are having an asthma attack.

The number of people with asthma keeps rising. More than 22 million people in the U.S. currently have asthma, and women are more likely to have asthma than men. African Americans go into the hospital more than whites because of asthma and are more likely to die from asthma than non-Hispanic white people.

These factors could increase your chances of getting asthma:

• air pollution
• poverty
• poor housing
• lack of education
• not being able to get to a doctor

Asthma is different for each person. Some people find their attacks are triggered by things like smoke or being around pets. Others find that very cold air can bring on an attack. Try to figure out what your triggers are and if you can, stay away from them. Some things that may trigger an asthma attack include:

• animals
• smoke
• pollen
• dust mites
• cold air
• sulfites – found in dried fruits, wine, and other foods

Publications

1.   Asthma — Asthma is a serious, sometimes life-threatening respiratory disease that affects the quality of life for millions of Americans. Learn more on this site about the indoor and outdoor environmental factors that can cause, trigger, or worsen asthma symptoms. Find out what you can do to lessen the effect of these factors.

   http://www.epa.gov/asthma/

2.   Asthma and African Americans — This fact sheet compares the asthma rate in African Americans against the rate in other minority groups. It also has information on asthma and African American children. The statistics also show how often African Americans are hospitalized or die from asthma.

   http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/content.aspx?ID=6170

3.   What People With Asthma Need to Know About Osteoporosis — People with asthma have a greater risk of osteoporosis. This fact sheet explains what steps people with asthma can take to prevent osteoporosis.

   http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Conditions_Behaviors/asthma.asp...

4. Asthma: Learning to Control Your Symptoms (Copyright © AAFP) — This resource features video clips that provide information on trigger signs that may indicate that an asthma attack is near. It also offers tips on how to control your asthma.

   http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/asthma/basics/014.html

5. Asthma: Learning to Control Your Symptoms (Copyright © AAFP) — This fact sheet is a guide to improving your asthma symptoms. It includes common triggers, tips for avoiding allergens, and attack warning signs. It also discusses medication and gives the basic steps for using an inhaler.

   http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/asthma/basics/014.html

6. Lung Disease Data at a Glance: Asthma (Copyright © ALA) — This publication lists facts on the high rate of lung disease and lung cancer among the African American population. It includes statistics and discussions on factors that contribute to this population’s high rates of lung disease.

   http://www.lungusa.org/site/c.dvLUK9O0E/b.312474/k.47E7/Lung_Disease_Data_at_a_Glance_Asthma.htm...

Organizations

1.   Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse (IAQ INFO)
2.   National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Information Center, NHLBI, NIH, HHS
3.   National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, HHS
4. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
5. American Lung Association
6. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

= Indicates Federal Resources

Current as of December 2007