Asthma: A Concern for Minority Populations Overview Allergic diseases, including asthma, are among the major causes of illness and disability in the United States. Illness and death from asthma have been increasing in this country for the past 15 years and are particularly high among poor, African-American inner-city residents. Although asthma is only slightly more prevalent among minority children than among whites, it accounts for three times the number of deaths. Low socioeconomic status, exposure to urban environmental contaminants, lack of breathing machines for asthma excercise induced asthma access to medical care, and lack of self-management skills all contribute to the increase in deaths in minority communities. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), supports basic, preclinical and clinical research to prevent, diagnose, and treat infections and immune-mediated illnesses, including asthma and allergies. Through basic and clinical research, as well as intervention programs, NIAID seeks to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and management of asthma, particularly in the minority populations excercise induced asthma excercise induced asthma disproportionately affected by this disease. Growing Health Problem Asthma is a growing health problem in the United States, particularly in inner-city African-American and Latino populations. Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by episodes of airflow obstruction. Symptoms of an asthma attack include coughing wheezing shortness of breath chest tightness Asthma occurs in people who are predisposed to develop asthma because of genetic and environmental factors that determine susceptibility. A variety of "triggers" may start or worsen an asthma attack, including cat remedies excercise induced asthma exposure to allergens viral respiratory infections airway irritants, such as tobacco smoke and certain environmental pollutants exercise Exposure of susceptible children to some of these triggers in early childhood, notably allergens such as house dust mites or cockroaches, may cause asthma. Once asthma sufferers learn what conditions prompt their attacks, they can take steps to attempt to control their environment and avoid these triggers. Medical treatment with anti-inflammatory agents (especially inhaled steroids) and bronchodilators, however, is usually necessary to prevent and ayuvedic medicine asthma excercise induced asthma control
