The American population has been known to be diverse because it is composed of people from different backgrounds and cultural heritage. Among the races that form a substantial part of the American population are African Americans and Caucasian among others. Citizens are classified as African Americans if they descend from both the white and the black ancestries. Caucasians are people believed to originate from the Caucasus region in Europe. African Americans are thought to have been integrated into the American population through the widespread slave trade in both Western and Central Africa. It is through this that Africans found their way to US destinations, such as the West Indies, South Carolina, Central America, and the United States. Caucasians are thought to have migrated from Europe to the United States during the civilization period.
Over the years, the demographics of these populations have changed. Aspects, such as boundaries, housing and zoning, social facilities, and environment have changed. Correspondingly, changes have occurred in relation to the field of health care. New trends, infections, and chronic conditions have arisen and affected the American population. Among the new trends, which are also serious challenges among the American population, are chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and obesity. They affect a significant part of the American population, particularly the minority ethnic groups, such as the African Americans, Hispanic, Asian Americans, American Indians, Pacific Islanders, and Caucasian among others. For the purpose of this paper, chronic conditions, affecting both African Americans and Caucasians will be reviewed along with the appropriate care plans.
Chronic Conditions Affecting both the African Americans and the Caucasians
There are various chronic diseases that affect both African Americans and Caucasians. Among the typical chronic conditions are asthma, diabetes, and obesity.
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by alterable obstruction of the bronchi. It results from swelling of lungs, trachea, and airwaves. Consequently, this initiates the tightening of the adjacent muscles. African Americans and Caucasians are prone to the condition because of the similarity of their residential environments. The condition is caused by triggers, such as animal dust, pollen, dust, mold, smoke, cold air, and air pollutants among others. In 2008, 7.8% equivalent to 23.3 million Americans suffered from Asthma. Although people of all ages, genders, races, and socioeconomic classes were affected, the condition was disproportionally prevalent at higher rates among some racial and ethnic groups, particularly African Americans and Caucasians. The number of African Americans suffering from asthma was approximately 105.5 per 1000 African Americans. This was a notch higher than the rate of 78.2 per 1000 among the Caucasian.
Adequate healthcare plans are an integral step toward reducing the burden of asthma. If appropriate interventions are not deployed to control the disease, it can lead to death or life-threatening symptoms. Firstly, treatment and medication are vital to stop the asthma attacks before they progress to critical levels. Treatment involves learning how to recognize the likely triggers of the condition and taking the appropriate steps to control them. Among the treatment methods include medications in various ways. Firstly, there are long-term asthma control medications, such as leukotriene modifiers, long-acting beta-agonists, inhaled corticosteroids, and theophylline among others. Secondly, there are quick-relief medications, such as ipratropium, oral and intravenous corticosteroids, and short-acting beta-agonists. Finally, there are allergy medications, which may be administered to control the allergic symptoms associated with the condition.
The second care plan for asthma is bronchial thermoplastic. The approach is used in severely ill asthma patients. It helps to heat the inside of the trachea with an electrode to relief the muscles with a soothing effect.