Introduction
Respiratory diseases are some of the most prevalent and costly illnesses affecting the American population today. Asthma is one of the most common respiratory diseases and it affects an estimated 24.6 million people in America. However, the occurrence of Asthma is not uniform across the US population. Research indicates that the prevalence rate of asthma is higher among African Americans than among whites in the US (Office of Minority Health, 2012). This paper will set out to investigate asthma in the African American community with a focus on why the disease is prevalent in this population group. The paper will also highlight the effects that the treatment options used by African Americans have on the prevalence of the disease.
Description of the Disease
Asthma is a distressing and often disabling condition that can sometimes lead to death. By definition, asthma is “a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, characterized by acute exacerbations of reversible airway obstruction” (Leach, 2010, p.193). The airway obstruction is also caused by the tightening of the muscles along the lung’s airways. Asthma is characterized by a hyperirritability of the airway to various stimuli. Individuals suffering from asthma have some degree of airway obstruction at all times. The airway obstruction becomes severe if the person is exposed to triggers, which might include smoke, pollen, air pollutants, and cold air to name but a few. Asthma is separated into several subtypes, which are; allergic, exercise-induced, nocturnal, and occupational asthma.
Asthma among African Americans
In the US, African Americans have the highest rates of asthma infections with the disease affecting 10.5% of this race while only 7.8% of the Caucasian population is affected. This represents a 35% difference in the rate of asthma prevalence between the two groups. Silvers and Lang (2012) observe that in addition to the high prevalence rates, African Americans are more likely to suffer from severe forms of asthma. This observation is corroborated by the American Lung Association (2010), which reveals that the death rate due to asthma is 3 times higher in the African American population than in the Caucasian population.
Factors that Make African Americans Vulnerable
The low socioeconomic status of many African Americans predisposes this group to asthma. A low socioeconomic status means that families will live in poor communities where living conditions exacerbate asthma. In addition to this, poverty reduces the chances of getting proper medical attention. Research indicates that African Americans are more likely to lack routine health care than Caucasians (Silvers & Lang, 2012). Even when health care is provided, there is a disparity in the quality of care among races with many African Americans receiving suboptimal care.
The genetic makeup of African American’s further predisposes them to asthma development. Genes contribute to the susceptibility to asthma development among individuals. Silvers and Lang (2012) document that genes make the African American community prone to some subtypes of asthma. For example, this community is more likely to be sensitive to allergens that trigger asthma attacks.
Exposure to tobacco smoke as a child increases the risk of developing asthma. African American children are more likely to be exposed to secondhand smoke at home. The very high prevalence of tobacco smoking among low-income African American households means that more children from this community are exposed to smoke in their homes. The Office of Minority Health (2012) reports that this exposure contributes to the high prevalence of asthma among African American children compared to Caucasian children.
Disease Transmission Modes
Genes play a significant role in asthma transmission. Genetic and familial factors play a major role in the development of Asthma with research estimating that the heritability of asthma is at 70% (Silvers & Lang, 2012). A person suffering from asthma cannot spread it to others since it is an inherited condition. As such, there are no methods to control the spread of the disease. However, since environmental factors trigger the symptoms of the disease, measures can be taken to control the environment.
Alternative Treatment
There is no cure for asthma, but there are ways to manage the condition and ensure that the patient lives a normal and productive life. Conventional treatment often entails the use of prescribed inhaled corticosteroids. This medication remains the most effective means of treating asthmatic patients. However, many African Americans demonstrate a marked resistance to this treatment option. Instead, they make use of alternative treatment options. These alternatives are used due to financial considerations and a deep suspicion of the conventional treatment options offered by the health care industry. Research by Birck (2006) revealed that African Americans use herbs and rubs to manage asthma. Treatments such as herbal tea and vitamin supplements are used to increase the body’s natural immunity, therefore, mitigating asthmatic attacks. In addition to this, some African Americans make use of prayer due to their deep religious beliefs.
Social and/or Cultural Influences
Some social and cultural influences promote the use of alternative medicine among African Americans. Birck (2006) documents that the preference for alternative medication also stems from the experiences with institutionalized racism by the African American community. The experience led to a great mistrust of the government and corporations in the US. In addition to this, the community has limited expendable income, making a cheaper medical alternative preferable. Most African Americans suffer from a lack of social support to deal with asthma. This lack of social support is mostly attributed to the low-income status of many African Americans. Without adequate support, the patient is at a higher risk of suffering from the severe outcomes of asthma. Silvers and Lang (2012) document that poor support is associated with high asthma morbidity among the African American community.
Effects of alternative treatments
Birck (2006) attributes the gap in asthma prevalence between African Americans and Caucasians to the use of alternative medicine by African Americans suffering from mild or severe asthma. To begin with, the efficacy of alternative medicine is not assured. Using this form of treatment increases the risk of the patient developing severe asthma or even dying. Some researchers attribute alternative treatment use by African Americans to the significantly higher death rate from asthma among this population. The use of the alternative treatment also leads to a decrease in the dosage of prescription medicine used by African Americans. Birck (2006) explains that for some African Americans, alternative drugs are considered part of conventional medicine. As such, a person using alternative medicine will engage in less intensive treatment even if he/she is suffering from severe asthma.
Promoting Health
The African American community recognizes that knowledge limitation has contributed to asthma prevalence and severity in this segment of the population. Efforts have therefore been made to increase people’s knowledge on asthma development and management strategies. Initiatives have been implemented to provide more knowledge to help control asthma among African Americans. In addition to this, steps are being taken to reduce the disparities in asthma care outcomes between Caucasians and African Americans. Awareness campaigns promote the use of conventional medication such as prescribed inhaled corticosteroids to manage asthma. With good management strategies, asthma-related morbidity and death among African Americans will be decreased.
References
American Lung Association (2010). State of Lung Disease in Diverse Communities. Web.
Birck, K. (2006). Beliefs About Asthma and Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Low-Income Inner-City African-American Adults. J Gen Intern Med, 21(12), 1317–1324.
Leach, M. (2010). Clinical Decision Making in Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Sydney: Elsevier.
Office of Minority Health (2012). Asthma and African Americans. Web.
Silvers, S.K., & Lang, D.M. (2012). Asthma in African Americans: What can we do about the higher rates of disease? Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, 79(3), 193-201.