Dr. Gail Brottman

think about what happens when you get smoke in your um eyes um and your eyes start watering right that's your body's way of protecting itself right because you start tearing and it's supposed to rinse out your eyes you get you get stuff in your nose your nose starts watering you sneeze you get mucus because the job of your lining of your nose and the lining of your airways

think about what happens when you get smoke in your um eyes um and your eyes start watering right that's your body's way of protecting itself right because you start tearing and it's supposed to rinse out your eyes you get you get stuff in your nose your nose starts watering you sneeze you get mucus because the job of your lining of your nose and the lining of your airways

is to try to keep stuff from getting way down in those little air sacs where the oxygen goes. And so what happens when you breathe in These small particles, you might see the term PM 2.5 or PM 10 or something. Those are particles, very tiny particles. The smaller the particle, the deeper into your lungs they can go. And again, it's an irritant and can cause swelling and mucus.

is to try to keep stuff from getting way down in those little air sacs where the oxygen goes. And so what happens when you breathe in These small particles, you might see the term PM 2.5 or PM 10 or something. Those are particles, very tiny particles. The smaller the particle, the deeper into your lungs they can go. And again, it's an irritant and can cause swelling and mucus.

And again, it's the swelling and the mucus and the irritants that can cause you to have trouble with your asthma. So, you know, I think everybody can relate to that. You is that I have recently downloaded on my phone and I just pulled up my my cell phone here. I have recently downloaded it's called air now.gov.

And again, it's the swelling and the mucus and the irritants that can cause you to have trouble with your asthma. So, you know, I think everybody can relate to that. You is that I have recently downloaded on my phone and I just pulled up my my cell phone here. I have recently downloaded it's called air now.gov.

And it's a free app that you can put on your phone, you put in your zip code, and it will give you The number for what the air quality is in your zip code and it tells you sort of what it looks like tomorrow, and I will tell you so for people who are sensitive that if it's all if the air if they. you know, if the air quality index, which is what it's called, is over 100, which is bad.

And it's a free app that you can put on your phone, you put in your zip code, and it will give you The number for what the air quality is in your zip code and it tells you sort of what it looks like tomorrow, and I will tell you so for people who are sensitive that if it's all if the air if they. you know, if the air quality index, which is what it's called, is over 100, which is bad.

So the lower the air quality index, the cleaner the air is. So lower is better. Higher is terrible. If it's over 100, then we're recommending that, you know, kids with asthma limit their outdoor activities and for sure, like don't play soccer or football or tennis or.

So the lower the air quality index, the cleaner the air is. So lower is better. Higher is terrible. If it's over 100, then we're recommending that, you know, kids with asthma limit their outdoor activities and for sure, like don't play soccer or football or tennis or.

I have, I have been telling people in my clinic, literally while they're sitting there and we're having our visit, I just say, just download this and you'll have it. It's very helpful. But, um, So, Stan, can I just circle back for a minute? I want to talk about two things, obviously. I know you have an agenda here, but I have an agenda here, actually, as an advocate for asthma, people with asthma.

I have, I have been telling people in my clinic, literally while they're sitting there and we're having our visit, I just say, just download this and you'll have it. It's very helpful. But, um, So, Stan, can I just circle back for a minute? I want to talk about two things, obviously. I know you have an agenda here, but I have an agenda here, actually, as an advocate for asthma, people with asthma.

I want to talk about two things. I want to talk about communication with diverse communities, because I've been here at Hennepin Healthcare for 31 years now. As of July 1st, this has been my lifelong career to work with communities of color and try to help address health disparities around any respiratory issue, but obviously asthma is my passion. And I think that

I want to talk about two things. I want to talk about communication with diverse communities, because I've been here at Hennepin Healthcare for 31 years now. As of July 1st, this has been my lifelong career to work with communities of color and try to help address health disparities around any respiratory issue, but obviously asthma is my passion. And I think that

one of the challenges, and really, honestly, this is where the community needs to help step up to help itself, is that, you know, and I'm just, you're a straightforward person. I'm just gonna call this out. There's a lot of mistrust with communities of color and the healthcare system. I mean, that's historical.

one of the challenges, and really, honestly, this is where the community needs to help step up to help itself, is that, you know, and I'm just, you're a straightforward person. I'm just gonna call this out. There's a lot of mistrust with communities of color and the healthcare system. I mean, that's historical.

It's, it's, it's well founded for good reasons which we're not going to talk about today, but it does exist. And so I think that in community in communications, especially with communicating

It's, it's, it's well founded for good reasons which we're not going to talk about today, but it does exist. And so I think that in community in communications, especially with communicating

about chronic conditions, about chronic medications that people might be a little afraid of or, you know, use the word steroids and people think of the Olympics and bulk up steroids and oh my gosh, and they're terrible. And so there needs to be communication from community members who really can help advocate

about chronic conditions, about chronic medications that people might be a little afraid of or, you know, use the word steroids and people think of the Olympics and bulk up steroids and oh my gosh, and they're terrible. And so there needs to be communication from community members who really can help advocate