The cause of asthma is not well understood, and it may vary for different people with asthma. Most researchers believe the development of asthma is due to a combination of genetic and environmental risk factors. Asthma is often an allergic reaction related to an overreaction by the immune system in response to a substance that enters the lungs.
In people with asthma, the small airways of the lungs narrow, obstructing the flow of air and causing symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing. Symptoms of asthma can range from mild and intermittent to severe and persistent and even life-threatening.
It is important to note that while science is good at finding correlations, or apparent relationships, between factors and disease, correlation does not prove the factor causes the disease. Many risk factors for asthma have been identified and are being studied, but none have been pinpointed as the cause of asthma.
Asthma can affect all age groups, but it often starts in childhood — usually before age 4. Different types of asthma tend to develop at different ages. Asthma in young children is usually allergic asthma, while asthma that develops in older adults is more likely to be nonallergic.
Asthma runs in families. If one of your parents has asthma, you are more likely (but not guaranteed) to develop it. Some studies suggest having one parent with asthma presents a 25 percent risk of a child having asthma too. If both parents have asthma, the risk may rise to 50 percent. However, some research indicates that having a mother with asthma — especially when the asthma is not well controlled during pregnancy — raises the risk more than having a father with asthma. Genes inherited from parents contribute differently to the risk for developing different types of asthma.
Researchers have identified eight genes so far that are related to asthma risk, with more than 100 other genes still under study. Some of these genes may influence how the body responds to vitamin D levels or respiratory infections. Others may influence allergic responses or the production of mucus.
Among children, boys are more likely than girls to have asthma. During adolescence and adulthood, more women have asthma than men.
In the United States, asthma disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities. People with Black and Puerto Rican heritage are more likely to have asthma, and children with these backgrounds are more likely to die from asthma than white children. Research by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America shows that in the U.S.:
The reasons for these disparities involve complex associations between economic, social, biological, and behavioral factors. Research to understand these factors and improve health outcomes is ongoing.
Risk factors that are not related to inherited genes are known as environmental factors. There are many environmental risk factors that lead to an increased risk for developing asthma. These include:
People working in certain industries are more likely to develop occupational asthma, potentially caused by substances they encounter in the workplace. Those who work in the following fields are more likely to be diagnosed with occupational asthma:
People with other health conditions — including allergies, obesity, and viral respiratory infections — are more likely to have asthma. There is a strong connection between asthma, allergies, and eczema (also known as atopic dermatitis) that extends to a family history of these conditions. Other lung diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), can make asthma symptoms worse. Read more about conditions related to asthma.
Once someone has developed asthma, certain irritants and situations may trigger asthma attacks. Asthma triggers differ from person to person. Common asthma triggers include:
Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent asthma from developing. Some risk factors, such as inherited genes, are beyond anyone’s control. However, researchers have identified a few factors associated with a lower risk for asthma that may have a protective effect. Potentially protective aspects include:
Around the world, some countries have conducted programs or clinical trials aimed at preventing asthma. Smoking-cessation campaigns and bans on public smoking are often prompted in part by an effort to prevent asthma. Some clinical trials have been designed to identify babies or pregnant mothers with a high risk for asthma and supplement their diets with vitamin D or fish oil. Other trials are aimed at modulating the microbiome — the community of bacteria and other microorganisms living in the human body — with vaccinations or probiotic supplements. So far, results are mixed. Researchers are hopeful that one day it may be possible to prevent asthma.
If you are worried about your risk or your child’s risk for developing asthma, you may be able to lower your risk. Consider taking steps to change these environmental factors:
Talk to your allergist or health care team about what you can do to reduce your risk factors for asthma.
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I have had asthma since birth and it’s in the geans so I am the one who got sick 🤒 out of five children and I am in the middle and yes I get the allergy’s but thanks to my allergy shots after 20 years… read more
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