Racism has taken so much away from us, including our ability to breathe. Here’s how our respiratory health is being stripped away from us.
Structural racism has caused previous and current generations to be exposed to respiratory hazards. After slavery ended, Black people were placed in poor segregated environments, being exposed to pollutants, environmental hazards, poor housing ventilation, along with an increase in physiological stress. This has contributed to current and future generations being more likely to be diagnosed with asthma. And the condition is much more than just a minor breathing complication.
Asthma can affect breathing, sleeping, and physical performance. Fortunately, however, there are methods to be more prepared for it.
One of the easiest things we can do to help lessen asthma symptoms are breathing exercises in addition to medical treatments, as it’s been shown to help improve breathing and quality of life. We’re all busy with everyday activities, so there are some small steps to help improve breathing.
Whether it’s through yoga, or practicing various breathwork exercises, take a few minutes in your day to work and focus on your breathing. Structural racism may have placed a generational harm on our bodies, but we can help improve our respiratory health for the future.