Asthma

Stan and Clarence chat with Dr. Gail Brottman about asthma.

Dr. Brottman is a pediatric pulmonologist at Hennepin County Medical Center and M Health Fairview Pediatric Specialty Clinic. She also serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Brottman also holds several credentials and honors and has been featured in several newsletters, videos, and other media outlets.

Listen along as we chat about asthma.

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships. More about their work can be found at http://huemanpartnership.org/

Research

Asthma Basics

Asthma is a condition in which your airways narrow, swell, and potentially produce extra mucus (Mayo Clinic)

Makes breathing difficult and trigger coughing/wheezing (Mayo Clinic)

No cure, but symptoms can be controlled

Examples → inhalers, self-care (i.e. learning how to manage symptoms)
6 steps to keep your asthma under control (ALA)

Make medical visits more productive (i.e. ask questions)
Create an asthma management plan
Assess and monitor your control
Understand your medication
Reduce asthma triggers
Learn about asthma self-management skills

Can be triggered by exercise, environment, and allergies
Severe asthma attacks can be life threatening

Asthma Statistics

- - Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children (WHO)
  - In the US, about 1 in 13 people have asthma (AAFA)
  - In 2018, the annual economic cost of asthma was more than $82 billion dollars (AAFA)
  - According to 2020 CDC data, almost 8% of US population have asthma
    - 11% of those with asthma live below 100% of poverty threshold

Asthma Disparities

Most asthma-related deaths take place in low-middle income countries where lack of diagnosis and lack of treatment is a barrier

Access to inhalers is also a critical issue (barrier to treatment)

In the US, asthma rates, deaths, and hospitalizations are disproportionately higher among people of color, seniors, and low-income communities (AAFA)

non-Hispanic black children are 2x more likely to have asthma compared to non-Hispanic white children

Asthma is more common in female adults than male adults
More likely in people with other allergic conditions like eczema
Increased asthma prevalence is linked to urbanization
Early life events affecting lung development can increase risk of developing asthma

Examples → low birth weight, prematurity, exposure to tobacco smoke and other sources of air pollution, viral respiratory infections

Exposure to environmental allergens/irritants are thought to increase the risk of asthma

Examples → indoor/outdoor air pollutants, dust, mold, occupational exposure to chemicals or fumes

Obesity and being overweight are also associated with greater risk of developing asthma
Individuals who have a parent with asthma are 3-6x more likely to develop asthma compared to someone who does not have a parent with asthma (ALA)
Smoking (cigarettes) is another risk factor for asthma

Asthma Resources

CDC’s National Asthma Control program
Asthma Support Communities
Better Breathers Club

Additional Discussion Topics & Questions

Air quality alerts

Alerts are typically higher in the summer (wildfire smoke)
People with allergies may experience longer and more intense allergy season (longer growing season → more CO2 in the air → higher pollen production)

Higher pollen levels can increase allergy and asthma attacks

Learn what types of pollen triggers your allergies (check local pollen levels)
Avoid the outdoors during high pollen times
Use dehumidifiers/air filters at home
Consult your medical provider

Sensitive groups = those with asthma, heart/lung disease, older adults, children, people doing extended outdoor physical activity
Health inequities

People who live, work, and gather near high-traffic roads and industrial areas often face greater health risks because of increased air pollution

There have been nearly 50 air quality alerts issued in MN since 2015

Nearly three-quarters have been due to wildfire smoke

So far, in summer 2023, there have been 19 air quality alerts (Matthew Taraldsen, MPCA Manager for the Risk Evaluation & Air Modeling Unit)

14 for twin cities metro area
Summer 2022, there were 0 air quality alerts
Summer 2021, there were 20 air quality alerts (current record)
Nearly 100% certainty that the record will be broken this year (23,000 square miles is on fire in Canada at this moment)

Tips for staying healthy during air quality alerts

Take it easy (listen to your body; limit or delay outdoor activity)
Stay away from local sources of air pollution (busy roads and fires)
If you have asthma, follow your asthma action plan and keep quick relief medicine handy
Reduce pollution that’s contributing to unhealthy air quality