Asthma is a long-term condition that affects our communities at higher rates. It is important for us to learn about asthma, how it may impact our lives, and what we can do to manage it.
Asthma is a chronic condition that negatively affects your breathing. When someone has asthma, their airways, which are like tubes in your body that help you breathe, become swollen and narrow. This makes it hard for air to move in and out of the lungs.
Imagine your airways as tiny pipes. When those pipes get irritated or inflamed, they can squeeze together, making it difficult to breathe. This can cause an asthma flare-up or attack which may lead to a visit to the emergency room or hospitalization.
Black people in the U.S. are 40% more likely to have asthma than white people.
Black women are 84% more likely to have asthma than Black men
Black people are nearly 3-4x more likely to die from asthma compared with other race and ethnic groups.
Black children are 8x more likely to die from asthma than white children
Asthma is broken down into types based on the cause and the severity of symptoms, as well as how well a person can function during an attack. Healthcare providers identify asthma as:
This type of asthma comes and goes so you can feel normal in between asthma flares.
Persistent asthma means you have symptoms much of the time. Symptoms can be mild, moderate or severe.
In severe asthma, despite using high dose medicines, reducing risks, and following a treatment plan, many times your asthma remains uncontrolled. People with severe asthma often experience high rates of emergency.
These resources might help
Living with asthma? Our community member, Eriel, knows a thing or two about managing flare-ups or asthma attacks.
Here are a few factors that might put you at risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD):
High blood pressure is a major cause of CKD. Get it checked regularly.
If it’s high, work with your doctor to manage it through lifestyle changes and, if needed, medication.
Diabetes is another leading cause of CKD. If you have diabetes, carefully monitor your blood sugar levels and follow your doctor’s recommendations to keep them in a healthy range.
Regular exercise helps control blood pressure and blood sugar, which protects your kidneys.
Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week.
Here are a few factors that might put you at risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD):
High blood pressure is a major cause of CKD. Get it checked regularly.
If it’s high, work with your doctor to manage it through lifestyle changes and, if needed, medication.
Diabetes is another leading cause of CKD. If you have diabetes, carefully monitor your blood sugar levels and follow your doctor’s recommendations to keep them in a healthy range.
Regular exercise helps control blood pressure and blood sugar, which protects your kidneys.
Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week.
Certain things can make it more likely for someone to develop asthma. These are called risk factors. Here are some common ones:
Living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or just looking for tips on how to be proactive about your kidney health? Explore these resources:
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