1. + ASTHMA IN AFRICAN AMERICANS COMPARED TO THE GENERAL POPULATION By: Duverkia Rojas, Abigail Owusu, Keith O’Day

2. + WHAT IS ASTHMA?  A respiratory condition marked by spasms in the bronchi (Any major air passages of the lungs that diverge from the wood pipe) of the lungs causing difficulty breathing.. 2

3. + CAUSES Airborne allergies  Pollen  Animal Dander  Mold  Cockroaches  Dust Mites Respiratory Infection  Cold Air Strong Emotions  Stress Air Pollutants  Smoke Certain Medications  Aspirin  Ibuprofen  Naproxen 3

4. + Symptoms Shortness of breath Whistling and wheezing sound Tight Chest pain Coughing Attacks 4

5. + What is a Health Disparity? The difference in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden of disease and the other adverse health conditions that exist among specific population groups in Massachusetts, compared to the general population. 5

6. + DISPARITY African Americans have a higher prevalence of asthma than the general population: the Caucasian race. African Americans are 3 times more likely to be hospitalized for asthma. 6

7. + Hospitalized rates for Asthma 7

8. + What are the risk factors of asthma? Genetics Socioeconomic status Health maintenance behaviors Air quality Obesity stress 8

9. 9 http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/stateprofiles/Asthma_in_MA.pdf

10. + Asthma Rate in Massachusetts: African Americans vs Caucasians African American have a higher Asthma rate than Caucasians 10

11. + Education 11 MA US MA US http://collegecompletion.chronicle.com/state/#state=ny&sector=public_four

12. + INCOME 12

13. + POVERTY 13

14. + CONCLUSION African Americans are more likely to develop asthma compared to the general population due to the differences in socioeconomic status, health maintenance behaviors, genetics, and level of education 14

15. + References  Asthma in African American what can we do about higher rates of disease By: Stacy K. Silvers MD. And David M. Lang MD. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine http://www.ccjm.org/content/79/3/193.full  Asthma Facts and Figures Asthma and Allergy Foundation http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9&sub=42  Mayo Clinic Asthma Basics http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/asthma/DS00021 http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/stateprofiles/Asthma_in_MA.pdf 15