Asthma

By Jenny Poland

Asthma, a chronic condition in which the airways become blocked or constricted making, it difficult to breathe, is a serious condition that affects many Americans, especially Michigan citizens. There are approximately 373,000 people suffering from asthma in the metro-Detroit area alone, and the asthma prevalence rate for children in Detroit is at 15 percent, which is twice the national average. This is an issue that is generally overlooked by the public, but for those whom are affected by it, it is a big deal.

Asthma prevalence is thought to be increasing due to low public awareness. Some asthma sufferers are disregarding symptoms and writing them off as a nuisance, and some individuals are unaware that they even have asthma.

?I was diagnosed with asthma over 40 years ago,? said Bob Poland, an asthma sufferer and a resident of Livingston county. ?I went to the hospital, and after feeling like I had almost died, I was told I had an asthma attack. I had no idea what it was.?

Another noted cause for the increase in the prevalence is low physician awareness and diagnosis. Some doctors may be unaware of the symptoms of asthmatic patients, and therefore, are less capable of giving proper treatment. Air pollutants are another major factor in the occurrence of asthma attacks, and asthma sufferers, who are exposed to a great deal of air pollutants are more likely to have aggravated symptoms.

Children are also deeply affected by asthma. There are many factors that contribute to early childhood asthma, and in the city of Detroit, the most common is exposure second-hand smoke. A recent study showed that the average child today spends approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, resulting in obesity and inactivity, which are another two suspected causes for the rise in children affected by asthma.

Other irritants and triggers of asthma include pollen, dust mites, mold or fungi, cleaning products, tobacco smoke, animal dander, and even strong smells and fumes. Another major trigger, unknown to many doctors as well as patients, especially in Detroit, is cockroaches, which carry germs and other allergy irritants.

Learning to avoid the things that irritate asthma will not only help prevent an attack, but also help prevent un-necessary visits to the emergency room. Raising awareness and removing certain items from the home, such as animals or certain cleaning products that trigger symptoms, are a couple of small steps that can be taken to make the lives of asthma sufferers more comfortable, and as a result, lower the chance of an attack, while also lowering the prevalence.