disparities in lung health series luchando por el aire3 american lung association 1-800-lung-usa

Luchando por el Aire: The Burden of Asthma on Hispanics

Disparities in Lung Health Series

Preface

Dina’s Story Lydia’s Story

The numbers say a lot in this report, but asthma affects individual people and their friends and families:

Introduction

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The Burden Of Asthma

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American Lung Association www.lung.org 1-800-LUNG-USA

ABOUT ASTHMA

9.8%6.5%3.4%6.6%4.5%6.7%15.7%

Hispanics in the U.S.

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38.1%

9.6%

32.6% 59%

78.5%

21.5%

91.8%

8.2%

Behind The Burden

Too Much of the Wrong Care

5


Dina went to the emergencydepartment 7 or 8 times for herasthma last year. “I know the ER isexpensive, but I can’t breathe andI don’t know what to do.”

3.5%

3.3%

2.1%

16.1%

2.8%

9.2%

63%

6


Dina was told by a patientadvocate that she should see aspecialist because her asthma isso poorly controlled. She said,“I had to fight with my doctorto give me a referral.” Shewaited months for a referral,and now there is a hold up withher insurance.

42%

74%

26%

13%

32%

13%

7


THE “HEALTHY IMMIGRANT” EFFECT

Lydia’s mother said that Lydiawould turn purple and they wouldget so scared. She went to thefamily doctor. “He would treat myasthma like it was the commoncold.” At age 22, Lydia ended up inthe emergency department becauseshe could not breathe.

8


CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR ASTHMA CARE

About the day that her daughterStephanie died, Lydia said, “When she left for school she wasfine. So you just don’t know. Ithought I was doing everything Icould to control her asthma.”

No Room to Breathe

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“My friend tells me I should moveaway from here… Maybe I shouldmove, but where would I go?”

10


Lydia owns her own home and has worked hard, with help froman asthma educator, to reduce the asthma triggers inside.

2%0.5%

38.9%

15.4%

25.2%

11.7%

8.2%

16.7% 17.5% 18.2%

21.9%23.8%

Poverty and Social Stress

11


Dina used to clean houses, but can no longer work because the chemicalsbother her too much. She has developed sensitivity to all kinds ofenvironmental exposures. “I always have a little wheeze in my chest.”

12


“I cry because I don’t feel like a normal person.”

THE ONGOING ASTHMA CRISIS AMONG PUERTO RICANS

Biological susceptibility — genetics, allergicsensitization and obesity

13


Dina feels like she can’t go outside “because of the weather.” Her doctor wants her to lose a little weight, so she started walkingevery day, but she gets so breathless she has to stop and rest.

Promising Practices

Strengthening the Public Health Infrastructure

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“To fully understand and meet the needs of our communities, wemust first thoroughly understand who we are serving.”

15


Expanding Access to Care Reducing Environmental Exposures in theCommunity

“The biggest single step we’ve taken to address health disparities is last year’shealth care law, the Affordable Care Act. This is not just the most important lawfor improving Latino health of the last two years. It’s the most important lawfor improving Latino health since the creation of the Medicare and Medicaid law45 years ago.”

16


Lydia is grateful for the help she has gotten from the American LungAssociation in California and other groups. Her goal is to become a certifiedasthma educator. She wants to tell her story to other parents and to schoolpersonnel to protect other children. “No one should die from this disease.”

Reaching People Where They Are

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“This disease has changed my life. I can’t go camping with my familyor do the things I want to do. I ask God to help me, I suffer a lot.”

Taking Action

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References

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Acknowledgements

American Lung Association National Headquarters Offices

disparities in lung health series luchando por el aire3 american lung association 1-800-lung-usa

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