According to the American Academy of Allergies, Asthma & Immunology, there are about 25 million people in the United States who suffer from asthma. Previous studies have shown that this chronic respiratory disease is more common in low-income communities due to a number of different environmental factors, but more data is needed to truly understand this link.
In an attempt to learn more about this connection, researchers from Columbia University are conducting a $720,000 study funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that will focus on asthmatic children between the ages of seven and 11 who live in certain parts of New York City.
NY1 News reports that the main goal of the research is to determine how mold, a hazardous fungus that is prevalent in low-income communities, leads to the development of asthma and the worsening of symptoms.
"Hopefully, in general, this will help us understand better what types of molds in the home lead to worse health outcomes, and that could come from an event like Hurricane Sandy or just from a leaky building," Matt Perzanowski, one of the Columbia University researchers, told the source.
Living with a chronic respiratory disease can range from irritating to debilitating, so it's important for individuals who suffer from asthma to do whatever they can to find relief. At Allergy Be Gone, we have a number of products that can help keep symptoms under control. For example, by purchasing hypoallergenic bedding and an allergen air purifier for your house, you'll be able to rest easier at night without breathing in common household contaminants.
