Impacting untold children across the world, asthma is the kind of condition that you can never be too careful about. Whether you have a mild case of the condition, or you struggle to breathe at all when things go wrong, every asthma sufferer understands one thing: asthma is no fun.
But it is treatable and it’s treatable in a way that allows many sufferers across the world to live normal, happy, fulfilling lives.
So why are Black children disproportionately affected?
If you’re trying to get a handle on this condition, wondering why it seems your child is struggling more with the condition than others, it’s not your imagination. As research indicates, asthma does affect Black children more often and more severely, and the reasons are complex…
Environmental Toxins
One of the main reasons for this disparity is the environment.
Unfortunately, many Black families live in areas where air pollution due to urban issues, problems with industrial sites, highway emissions, and other sources of contaminants can become a serious problem.
Poor air quality is one of the biggest predictors of asthma out there.
And then you’ve got what’s happening inside the home. Inside many homes in these areas, various triggers can spring up. These include problems like dust mites, cockroaches, mold, and other triggers that exacerbate asthma and make it a lot worse.
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If left unaddressed, these issues can become something altogether unmanageable.
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Lack of Adequate Healthcare
Many neighborhoods lack adequate access to healthcare. This can happen for many reasons, including socioeconomic barriers, lack of insurance, transportation problems, and a glaring lack of certain healthcare facilities in certain neighborhoods.
The research doesn’t lie. It shows that Black children are less likely to receive appropriate asthma management, especially things like preventive medication.
When preventive medicine is not present or not adequate, many kids may suffer severe asthma attacks, which only furthers the health problems they already have.
Comorbid/Inflammatory Conditions
One of the reasons that Black children have higher rates of asthma is their comorbid conditions. For instance, obesity is linked to increased inflammation in the body, which is a critical factor in the development and worsening of asthma.
In fact, inflammatory conditions like allergic rhinitis occur more frequently in Black children, which may increase airway hyperresponsiveness and exacerbate symptoms.
This is why a comprehensive approach to asthma care is so important.
Prenatal Conditions
Prenatal factors refer to factors that impact how unborn fetuses are exposed to internal toxins. For instance, if the mother smokes, drinks, uses drugs, or even ingests air pollution, this can affect the health of the fetus. In fact, it can even impact fetal development.
In addition, gestational diabetes and hypertension (which are more prevalent among Black women) can affect fetal health as well. And this, believe it or not, can potentially cause asthma.
According to research, babies born from smoking mothers are at a significantly higher risk for developing asthma. This is why maternal health and environmental factors are so important to consider for preserving the health of the child!
RELATED: Navigating Childhood Asthma: Insights From a Pediatric Pulmonologist
Developmental Factors
Studies indicate that certain early-life exposures can be a serious problem for developing children. In some cases, respiratory conditions and allergens may ‘set the stage’ for asthma down the road.
So, given that Black children are more likely to have these exposures, they’re at a higher risk for such development.
Then there is also the issue of cumulative stress. From socioeconomic barriers to discrimination and racism, the psychological burden takes a toll. Over time, stress can lead to inflammation, which may precipitate asthma in certain vulnerable populations.
Bringing It Together
Clearly, asthma in Black children is a multifaceted issue. It comes from all kinds of places, like environmental toxins, poor healthcare, comorbidities, prenatal factors, and developmental difficulties.
Because of this, addressing this public health issue requires a multifaceted response. Interventions should focus on improving air quality, as well as providing safer environments overall. This must start at the local, state, and federal levels, all largely dependent on community involvement.
If we can work toward broader social and economic reforms, we can address not just the symptoms of Black childhood asthma, but the underlying issues that make it so problematic.
