Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month: Breathing Barriers in Latino Communities

By Cesar Rolon

For millions of Latinos across the United States, simply breathing is a daily battle—one made harder by where they live, how they're treated, and what they can afford. Asthma and allergies are not just individual health issues; they are the byproducts of environmental injustice, language gaps, and inequitable access to care.

May marks Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, a critical time to expose these hidden barriers and empower Latino families with education, advocacy, and resources. While asthma is often seen as a childhood condition, it is a lifelong illness that affects over 2 million Latinos, many of whom suffer in silence as adults.

Why Asthma and Allergies Hit Latino Communities Hard

Environmental Injustice: Breathing Polluted Air

Latino communities are disproportionately located in pollution-prone areas—next to highways, factories, landfills, or industrial zones. In cities like Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and the Central Valley of California, Latino neighborhoods face some of the worst air quality in the country.

Indoor conditions often make things worse. Many families live in older, substandard housing with mold, cockroach infestations, and poor ventilation—all known asthma and allergy triggers.

“My son used to cough all night, but the doctor said it was just a cold. We didn’t know it was asthma until he had a full attack,” says Maria, a mother of two in East Los Angeles. “The apartment always smells like mildew, but we can’t afford to move.”

Limited Access to Ongoing Care

Latinos are more likely to be uninsured or underinsured, which means routine care for asthma—such as pulmonary function testing, allergy screening, or consistent access to inhalers—is often delayed or never received.

Many end up in emergency rooms during severe attacks, without a long-term asthma action plan. Adults with asthma may also ignore symptoms out of necessity, continuing to work demanding jobs outdoors or in factories even while wheezing or short of breath.

Language & Literacy Barriers

Even when treatment is available, it often fails to account for cultural and linguistic differences. Instructions for:

• Inhaler use

• Peak flow meters

• Allergy medications

• Preventive triggers

…are usually written only in English. And the use of medical jargon can lead to misunderstandings and poor medication adherence.

Many Latino adults—especially elders—may normalize breathing difficulties as signs of aging or avoid seeking help due to fear of being misunderstood or dismissed.

Asthma Isn’t Just for Kids: The Forgotten Latino Adults

Most health messaging about asthma focuses on children—but Latino adults are increasingly at risk, particularly those who:

• Smoke or live with smokers

• Work in construction, landscaping, or manufacturing

• Are exposed to cleaning chemicals or allergens

• Have obesity, diabetes, or high blood pressure

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“I thought asthma was something kids grow out of,” says Jorge, a 56-year-old janitor in Chicago. “But I’m wheezing after walking a few blocks, and my doctor finally said it’s adult-onset asthma.”

Adult-onset asthma is frequently undiagnosed in Latino men and women, leading to preventable ER visits, missed work, and long-term lung damage.

Solutions: Breathing Life Into Our Communities

Community-Based Clinics

Bilingual clinics like Esperanza Health Centers, Oak Street Health, and federally qualified health centers are providing:

• Free or low-cost screenings

• Asthma action plans in Spanish

• Education on allergen reduction at home

  
  

These clinics are especially critical in mixed-status households where undocumented adults may avoid seeking care due to fear of deportation or cost.

Culturally Competent Education

Programs through the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and local promotoras de salud provide bilingual resources that:

• Teach families to identify triggers like dust mites, mold, pet dander, or pollen

• Explain inhaler and spacer use with visuals

• Guide renters on how to advocate for mold remediation or pest control

Environmental Health Campaigns

Local initiatives are starting to address housing-related asthma risks, including:

• Free air purifiers in public housing

• Green cleaning workshops in Spanish

• Asthma-friendly certification programs for schools and childcare centers

  
  

What Can Latino Families Do?

1. Know the Symptoms

   • Persistent cough

   • Shortness of breath

   • Chest tightness or wheezing

   • Coughing at night or after exercise

     
     

2. Ask for a Formal Diagnosis

   • Many assume it's allergies or fatigue. Demand proper testing.

   • Use bilingual materials or bring a translator to medical visits.

     
     

3. Create an Asthma Action Plan

   • Every adult or child with asthma should have one—especially during allergy season.

     
     

4. Control the Environment

   • Use dust covers, clean with non-toxic products, and reduce mold triggers.

   • Don't ignore chronic sneezing, watery eyes, or fatigue—they could signal severe allergies.

     
     

Resources for Latino Families

• Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America – Spanish site: www.aafa.org/asthma-in-latinos

• EPA Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools: www.epa.gov/iaq-schools

• Vive Tu Vida En Forma Health Events: Free bilingual screenings and education

• Salud America! Environmental Justice Stories & Tools: www.salud-america.org

  
  

Final Word: Because Breathing Should Never Be a Privilege

Latino families deserve more than just treatment after an asthma attack—they deserve education, prevention, and empowerment.

We must push for environmental justice, bilingual care, and culturally relevant health campaigns that understand the realities of Latino life. No one should have to choose between paying rent and buying an inhaler. And no child—or adult—should have to struggle to breathe because of where they live or what language they speak.

This Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, let’s break the silence, clean the air, and make every Latino home and body a place where healthy breathing is possible.