Unfortunately, there’s another condition associated with poverty. Those living in poverty have a higher risk of developing asthma. Just over seventeen percent of those living in poverty report having asthma, whereas only eleven percent of those not living in poverty report this condition. Left untreated, a severe asthma attack can result in death.
According to Partners Healthcare Asthma Center, there may be a number of reasons why those living in poverty have higher rates of asthma. For starters, exposure to asthma triggers may be higher in poor households. For example, roaches and poor air quality may be present. In addition, exposure to smoke and chemicals may be greater. Plus, mold and other factors may play a role in this process. If it rains, for instance, a leak may be too expensive to fix, which could lead to poor air quality in terms of treating and ridding a home of mold growth.
Smoking is yet another issue that affects the nation’s poor. In fact, one study says that you’re more likely to smoke if you’re poor. A 2010 CDC estimate concluded that nearly thirty percent of those living below the poverty level smoke.