Contributed by: Ashwini Sehgal, MD | Nephrology
Asthma, a chronic respiratory condition, is made worse by air pollution. And air pollution is not just an outdoor thing — what you’re breathing inside your home also matters, says Ashwini Sehgal, MD, a MetroHealth physician.
One surprising source of indoor air pollution is a gas stove. Gas flames emit potentially harmful substances into the air that, if not properly vented, contribute to poor indoor air quality and asthma symptoms, says Dr. Sehgal, who recommends switching to electric if you or someone in your household has asthma.
Cleveland is one of the most challenging cities to live in when it comes to asthma (one in five residents has asthma) and breathing health generally:
- Black individuals face a higher risk from asthma. They are three times more likely to get hospitalized with asthma than white individuals.
- Cleveland gets poor marks for air quality. The American Lung Association grades it from a “C” to an “F” for specific air pollutants.
- Cleveland has a poverty rate of over 30% — one of the highest in the U.S. Disadvantaged communities often face high levels of indoor air pollution, which can worsen asthma and other respiratory conditions
- More than half of housing units in Cleveland are rentals, and renters often can’t afford to or are not allowed by landlords to replace appliances.
