Asthma In New York City Essay

About 12% of adults in New York City have asthma, which is more than 800 thousand people. Asthma is a long-term respiratory health condition that affects the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe. Not only are there high asthma rates in New York City but it is one of the most polluted cities in the United States. The main pollutant is called particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5). PM2.5 are small particles in the air made out of harmful substances and solids. PM2.5 particles are emitted from carbon fueled vehicles, non renewable energy power plants and construction sites. Several neighborhoods in New York City have many varying rates of asthma and PM2.5 levels, such as Mott Haven, Central Harlem and Midtown East. Mott Haven, the northernmost neighborhood

Central Harlem, located in Upper Manhattan, has a large Black community and is also a low-income neighborhood. Midtown East is a wealthier neighborhood with a predominantly white population, located in Lower Manhattan. With lower income situations, comes higher stress and mental health levels. Many people in New York City suffer from mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. In Mott Haven, Central Harlem, and Midtown East, stress has a greater influence on asthma than PM2.5.

PM2.5 isn’t a large factor that affects asthma. As shown is Figure 2, asthma and PM2.5 rates have opposite trend lines. Levels of PM2.5 are very high in Midtown East, yet asthma rates are significantly lower when compared to the other neighborhoods. This is seen again in Central Harlem

According to a research study done by the Mental Health Foundation, many people use smoking as an outlet to relieve stress and anxiety in their daily lives. As seen in Figure 3, rates of mental health and smoking follow a very similar trend line. Central Harlem and Mott Haven have particularly high rates while Midtown East is much lower. This further proves their connection. Not only can stress lead to people creating unhealthy tendencies but it can impact hormone levels. High hormone levels can negatively affect pregnant women and their unborn children. In a study, investigating high hormone levels in pregnant women and premature births, it was found that the two are in fact linked and that high hormone levels may be a leading factor in most premature births. The connection between premature birth rates and mental health rates can be seen again in Figure 3, they follow the same decline from Central Harlem to Midtown East. Both smoking and premature births are direct causes of asthma. Smoke from cigarettes, vapes and pipes can seriously inflame a person’s airways and irritate their lungs. It can also damage small air sacs in someone's lungs called alveoli which take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide. If the alveoli in a person’s lungs are severely harmed, it can make it harder for them to breathe and act as a trigger for asthma attacks and a factor in developing the condition. If a baby is born