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Asthma narrows airways through inflammation and the secretion of excess mucus, making it more difficult to breathe (IBES, 2021). Minority groups, especially those living in low and middle-income communities, are more heavily impacted by adult asthma due to social/economic factors (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 2020).

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"Fig. 1. The concentration-response curve of the association between ambient PM2.5 and prevalence of asthma among older adults in six low- and middle-income countries" (Ai, S., Qian, Z. M., Guo, Y., Yang, Y., Rolling, C.A., Liu, E., Wu, F., & Lin, H., 2019).

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"Fig. 1. The concentration-response curve of the association between ambient PM2.5 and prevalence of asthma among older adults in six low- and middle-income countries" (Ai, S., Qian, Z. M., Guo, Y., Yang, Y., Rolling, C.A., Liu, E., Wu, F., & Lin, H., 2019).

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Tune in to this Public Service Announcement!

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Tune in to this Public Service Announcement!

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This PSA serves to educate and lower the death rates for adult asthma.

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Claim: As the concentration of ambient PM2.5 (particulate matter/particle pollution) in low-income and middle-income countries increases, the prevalence of adult asthma also increases (Ai, S., Qian, Z. M., Guo, Y., Yang, Y., Rolling, C.A., Liu, E., Wu, F., & Lin, H., 2019).
Evidence: The curve of the graph goes upwards, representing that as ambient PM 2.5 concentration increases, the log relative risk of an adult getting asthma increases.
When ambient PM2.5 is 20 μg m^-3, the log relative risk is about -0.1.
When ambient PM2.5 is 60  μg m^-3, the log relative is about 0.18.
When ambient PM2.5 is 100  μg m^-3, the log relative risk is about 0.63.
The concentration of ambient PM2.5 is directly proportional to asthma among adults, because as concentration increases, so does the number of adults who are diagnosed with asthma (Ai, S., Qian, Z. M., Guo, Y., Yang, Y., Rolling, C.A., Liu, E., Wu, F., & Lin, H., 2019).
If one is exposed to a lot of ambient PM2.5, the risk of getting asthma greatly increases, whereas if one lives in a high-income country, where ambient PM2.5 isn’t as common, then there is less of a risk of getting asthma
(Ai, S., Qian, Z. M., Guo, Y., Yang, Y., Rolling, C.A., Liu, E., Wu, F., & Lin, H., 2019).

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Adult Asthma's Connection to Homeostasis 

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Adult Asthma's Connection to Homeostasis 

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Homeostasis is the ability of the body to regulate its internal conditions, even if the external or internal conditions change. To sum up how the respiratory system and homeostasis should be working when a person is completely healthy- the air should go down the trachea, all the way to the alveoli at the end of the bronchioles (IBES, 2020). The alveoli's walls should be thin enough that the diffusion of oxygen into the body and the diffusion of carbon dioxide into the alveoli, is efficient and does not require much effort on the person's part (IBES, 2020). The gases, such as oxygen, should easily be able to be diffused into the body, where it will be used as a reactant in cellular respiration, which will produce the products, such as water, carbon dioxide, and energy, which can be used to regulate and keep stable homeostatic conditions (IBES, 2020).  Adult asthma causes the airways to become inflamed, the muscles of the lungs to tighten, and excess mucus to be secreted (Family Allergy & Asthma, 2018). The airways becoming inflamed causes the airways to start to become overly sensitive (Family Allergy & Asthma, 2018). The inflammation ultimately causes the blocked airways because it is becoming smaller and smaller as it gets more inflamed (Family Allergy & Asthma, 2018). Because of the excess mucus, the surface area of the alveoli (the part of the respiratory system that allows for gas exchange between the lungs and the rest of the body) becomes smaller, and therefore prevents the efficient exchange of gases, because the diffusion distance (the distance between one side of the alveoli wall to the other side of the capillary wall)  has increased (IBES, 2020). Since the air is getting trapped in the alveoli, as diffusion is happening very slowly, hypoxia, or low oxygen content in the body, can occur (Family Allergy & Asthma, 2018). Aside from that, the tightening of the lung's muscles, makes it harder for the asthmatic person to breathe easily, which causes the heavy breathing after a lot of energy is exerted (Family Allergy & Asthma, 2018). An example of an asthmatic patient's reaction when the body is trying to maintain homeostasis is something such as this: When a person is exercising, their oxygen level begins to drop (stimulus), the lungs/blood vessels (receptor) could pick this up and send a message to the brain (Integrating center), which in turn sends a message to the lungs/nose (effector) to take bigger breaths and to the heart (effector), to pump faster, so that more oxygen can be taken in, and the oxygen can be transported throughout the body faster (Family Allergy & Asthma, 2018). This causes the internal conditions (amount of oxygen in your body) to become stable, at which time the brain will tell the effectors to stop pumping/breathing at an increased rate. For an asthmatic patient, sometimes inhalers are needed to give even more oxygen to the body  (Bass, 2020).

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Respiratory System for a Person with Asthma 

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Respiratory System for a Person with Asthma 

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(click here for source link)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The airways are obstructed by inflammation, tightened muscles, and excess mucus (Mayo Clinic, 2020). As a result, oxygen and carbon dioxide can't get to the lungs at the expected speed for gas exchange, which occurs in the alveoli. A person with asthma is working very hard in order to breathe in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide, causing irregularities in breathing patterns (IBES, 2021).

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As displayed below, the trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles are free of dirt and excess lining, allowing for the smooth diffusion of oxygen from a high concentration in the lung to a low concentration in the blood, and the diffusion of carbon dioxide from a high concentration in the blood to a low concentration in the lung. The person is able to breathe in and out easily without constricted airways (IBES, 2021).

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What were some of my most powerful learning moments and what made them so?

So far, my most powerful learning moment was probably when I read my first secondary source. It really enlightened me about the healthcare situation, which led me to want to know more so that I can help my community in the future should I get into the medicine industry.

How well did I and my team communicate overall?

So far, we have communicated nicely, although I’m sure it would have been easier in person. We have texted to coordinate our research and called each other so we can do the homework simultaneously in case we have any questions.

How can I better support and encourage my teammates on this unit 2 padlet and future projects?

I can help them when they need help, and also let them take the lead when they have a good idea. I can also make sure that both partners know what needs to be accomplished so that everything runs even more smoothly. I can also encourage my partner so that we are both in the right headspace to complete the assignment, through texting or as I said before, calling.

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Issues Relating to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Are Evident In Adult Asthma

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Issues Relating to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Are Evident In Adult Asthma

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Doctors are not willing to provide minority groups with the treatment they need when they need it, which is why it takes a while for already diagnosed asthma patients to come into the ED even if their condition is very bad, which could lead to many more deaths, when a lot of them could have been prevented (Heath, 2020). Although this could be attributed to the fact that the medication is too expensive, doctors should be trying to change that for the at-risk demographic to be okay  (Heath, 2020).  It also shows that doctors are treating white patients better than minority patients  (Heath, 2020). This could be an issue related to diversity because the doctors are not willing to understand here these people are coming from, and as such don’t treat their situations accordingly. Understanding that doctors/healthcare professionals need to cater to the needs of their patients will help doctors then want to actually take an interest in their patient’s situation. Once they take an interest in their patients' situation, they can actually provide them with the right treatments, and educate them properly so that they can get as good as they can (depending on the severity of the condition)  (Heath, 2020).

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AAFA. (2020, September 16). Asthma Disparities - Reducing Burden on Racial and Ethnic Minorities. Retrieved January 16, 2021, from https://www.aafa.org/asthma-disparities-burden-on-minorities.aspx
In-text Citation: (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 2020)

Ai, S., Qian, Z. M., Guo, Y., Yang, Y., Rolling, C.A., Liu, E., Wu, F., & Lin, H. (2019). Long-term exposure to ambient fine particles associated with asthma: A cross-sectional study among older adults in six low- and middle-income countries. Environmental Research, 168, 141-145.
https://ezproxy.lawrenceville.org:2134/science/article/pii/S0013935118302433
In-text Citation: (Ai, S., Qian, Z. M., Guo, Y., Yang, Y., Rolling, C.A., Liu, E., Wu, F., & Lin, H., 2019)

Bass, P. (2020, July 10). Homeostasis and Its Relation to Asthma. Retrieved January 19, 2021, from https://www.verywellhealth.com/homeostasis-and-asthma-200952
In-text citation:  (Bass, 2020)

ChartsBin, S. (2016). Country Income Groups (World Bank Classification). Retrieved January 23, 2021, from http://chartsbin.com/view/2438

Collection Of Smoking People. (2020, March 05). Retrieved January 23, 2021, from https://www.freepik.com/premium-vector/collection-smoking-people_7147292.htm

Family Allergy & Asthma. (2018, January 17). Treating and Managing Asthma Attacks. Retrieved January 16, 2021, from https://www.familyallergy.com/education/asthma/asthma-attacks/#:~:text=During%20an%20asthma%20episode%2C%20the,the%20end%20of%20the%20bronchioles
In-text Citation: (Family Allergy & Asthma, 2018)

Heath, S. (2020, February 06). Racial Minorities See Health Disparities in Asthma Treatment. Retrieved January 16, 2021, from https://patientengagementhit.com/news/racial-minorities-see-health-disparities-in-asthma-treatment

In-text citation: (Heath, 2020)

Mayo Clinic. (August 11, 2020). Asthma - Symptoms and causes. Retrieved January 16, 2021, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/symptoms-causes/syc-20369653#:~:text=Asthma%20attack-,Asthma%20attack,you%20may%20cough%20and%20wheeze
In-text Citation: (Mayo Clinic, 2020)

Stock Vector. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23, 2021, from https://www.123rf.com/clipart-vector/headshot.html?sti=m0g94j73lnksa70o0d%7C&mediapopup=112789822

Stock Vector. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23, 2021, from https://www.123rf.com/clipart-vector/indian_chief.html?sti=m2h4r2llnmtbfo3kp6%7C&mediapopup=59875601

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Issues Relating to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Are Evident In Adult Asthma

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Issues Relating to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Are Evident In Adult Asthma

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Racial minority groups are predisposed to asthma due to historical systematic racism, segregation, discriminatory policies, socioeconomic status, education, neighborhood and physical environment, employment, social support networks, and access to health care. As emphasized by the “Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America,” “Social determinants and structural inequities largely drive disparities in asthma. Factors such as genetics and individual behaviors contribute less to asthma disparities” (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 2020). The goal of reducing these inequities is a collective and wholehearted effort among “patients/families, health care professionals, researchers, biotech and pharmaceutical companies, educators, schools, community leaders, government agencies, health care systems, health care payers, employers, national and local associations, funders, advocates, policymakers/legislators and the media” (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 2020). Healthcare professionals need to acknowledge the different and greater risks minorities face. Healthcare professionals can combat this issue by developing and implementing training programs for workers and build community partnerships to match patients with local resources. Beginning and expanding programs to spread awareness will help a tremendous amount. Healthcare professionals need to treat minority patients knowing the staggering statistics. Employing minority staff members who experience first-hand the disparities will be an effective strategy. Significantly increasing the participation of Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous Americans in clinical trials is an important step to make as well. (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 2020).

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Adult Asthma Inhibits Proper Structure-Function In The Respiratory System

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Adult Asthma Inhibits Proper Structure-Function In The Respiratory System

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In the respiratory system, the trachea is a tube that connects the oral/nasal cavity to the bronchi, which connects to the lungs. Bronchi branch into an even smaller set of tubes called bronchioles, which connect to alveoli, grape-like sacs. Through the lining of alveoli, gas exchange between the air and the blood occurs. There are hairs/cilia as well as mucus cells on one’s trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles, which trap dirt and allow one’s body to filter out the gunk. However, when someone has asthma, his/her airway linings secrete excess mucus, creating a narrowing of the trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles. (Mayo Clinic, 2020) As a result, the air becomes trapped in the alveoli, and oxygen struggles to diffuse from the lung into the blood and vice versa for carbon dioxide. (Family Allergy & Asthma, 2018) Therefore, people with asthma have difficulty breathing. This exact issue is disproportionately prevalent among minority racial groups. (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 2020)

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What were some of my most powerful learning moments and what made them so?
In Unit 1, I developed my understanding of not only Angina, but also the Circulatory System as I discovered how the disease obstructs proper blood flow to the heart and through the arteries. Therefore, I grew my knowledge of the structure-function relationship of arteries and the heart and in what ways Angina is detrimental. I was able to identify why the patient reacted a certain way to Angina because I knew the areas the disease targeted and created difficulty.

How well did I and my team communicate overall?
My team and I communicated very well. My partner and I texted each other with suggestions or comments for our work, which was encouraging.

How can I better support and encourage my teammates on this unit 2 padlet and future projects?
I can better support my teammate by determining in advance the work we will collaborate on as well as complete independently. In the future, I will remain organized to help identify the parts of the project my partner and I will each do, and keep in touch with updates and words of encouragement!

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Watch this video to discover how particulate matter (also called particle pollution) infiltrates Pittsburg. Large industries purchase land in low-income neighborhoods as it is inexpensive, and release particle pollution without thinking twice about the effects of adult asthma on communities. Racial minorities predominately live in cities such as Pittsburg, and there are visible DEI disparities in adult asthma. Please focus on minutes 0:00 to 2:45.

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How Air Pollution Exposes America's Racial Disparities | NowThis

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"Racial Minorities See Health Disparities in Asthma Treatment"

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"Racial Minorities See Health Disparities in Asthma Treatment"

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Claim:
Racial minority groups are not getting the same level of treatment as majority groups and the minority groups have a lot of social/economic factors affecting them (much more so than the majority groups) (Heath, 2020).
Evidence:

1. People who belong to racial minority groups are more likely to visit the ED for asthma symptoms than white people, and analysts say that this could mean that there is a lack in "health equity" and that the minorities are not getting treated well enough (Heath, 2020).

2. A 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey and Asthma Call-back Survey were looked at and again, researchers found that racial minorities were more likely to visit the ED because of Asthma (32% of African American + 23% of Hispanic patients went to the ED due to asthma symptoms within the previous 12 months before this was published, while only 14% non-hispanic white patients reported the same symptoms) (Heath, 2020).

3. The minority groups had a higher body mass index (BMI), had a lower level of education, and a lower household income, and a lot of them face problems getting healthcare coverage, as well as the fact that they could be past/current smokers. They also, as a group, have a lower medical adherence, which makes it much harder for them to be sort of stable/healthy and stay out of the ED (Heath, 2020).

4. Another study was even done that controlled all the factors I listed above, and still the minority groups are 2 times as likely to visit the ED than white people (Heath, 2020)

5. Minorities are also 40% less likely to report when their condition gets bad, and researchers claim that this could show that their group is undertreated (Heath, 2020).

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“Asthma Disparities in America: A Roadmap to Reducing Burden on Racial and Ethnic Minorities”

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“Asthma Disparities in America: A Roadmap to Reducing Burden on Racial and Ethnic Minorities”

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Racial minority groups such as Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native communities are disproportionately burdened by asthma. Despite advancements in health care and research related to asthma in the United States, racial gaps remain prominent. This is a result of inequities stemmed from structural, social, biological, and behavioral determinants. (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 2020)
Compared to white Americans, Black Americans are nearly 1.5 times more likely to develop asthma and are five times more likely to visit the emergency department due to asthma. Even more shocking, Black Americans’ death rates from asthma are three times higher than those of white Americans. In addition, Puerto Rican Americans are nearly two times more likely to have asthma than white Americans. Focusing on gender, Black women have the most frequent asthma-related deaths. (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 2020)

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Blue: Aryana
Pink: Liza
Green: contributions from each member