Respiratory Diseases
Respiratory diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, pneumoconiosis (sometimes called black lung), and many more, affect millions of people in the United States each year. More than 25 million (1 in 13) Americans have asthma. The death rate for COPD has doubled since 1969, even as the death rates for other chronic conditions have declined.
People belonging to Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native communities are disproportionately affected by asthma despite recent advances in US health policy and research. Children and older adults are particularly at risk of adverse effects caused by respiratory disease, including hospitalization and death. Populations with certain environmental exposures, like people who smoke or work in the mining industry, also face higher risk.
Respiratory diseases of all kinds are exacerbated by poor air quality. Many air pollutants, including particulate matter and ground-level ozone, can cause the appearance or worsening of respiratory illness. Those exposed to higher concentrations of air pollutants, including people living in urban areas, low-income communities, and communities of color, face higher risk for the development or worsening of respiratory diseases.
One method of reducing the burden of respiratory disease is to improve air quality and reduce air pollution. At scale, changes can be made to industrial, agricultural, and transportation systems to reduce air pollution levels. At the local level, more focused approaches, like the creation of smoke- and exhaust-free areas, or could help reduce harmful exposures that could result in respiratory illness.
Resources & Tools
Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Adults
Resource - Data Bank/repository
Brought to you by CDC National Center for Health Statistics
Bright Spot: Local Government Smoke-free or Tobacco-free Regulations
Resource - Model Policy
Brought to you by 100MHL
Understanding Racial Disparities in Exposure to Traffic-Related Air Pollution: Considering the Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Population Distribution
Resource - Journal Article
Brought to you by MDPI
Increased Respiratory Virus Activity, Especially Among Children, Early in the 2022-2023 Fall and Winter
Resource - Fact Sheet
Brought to you by CDC
Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Adults, by Detailed Race and Ethnicity
Resource - Data Bank/repository
Brought to you by CDC National Center for Health Statistics
Bright Spot: Clinical Integration of Fax Referrals to Quitlines
Resource - Model Policy
Brought to you by 100MHL
National Jewish Health: Community Health Needs Assessment 2016 and Implementation Strategy 2016-2019
Resource - Plan
Brought to you by National Jewish Health
Our Climate, Our Health
Story
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Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
Published on 04/18/2017
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