Asthma is a condition that causes the airways in the lungs to become inflamed and narrow, making breathing difficult, if not impossible. Every day, 40,000 Americans miss work or school because of this disease and 30,000 suffer an asthma attack, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Although no cure is available, this condition can be effectively controlled once the risk factors are identified.
Allergies
Many items can fall under the category of an allergy, considered an environmental factor, for those diagnosed with asthma. This is because allergies are triggers for asthma patients, and what triggers an asthma attack in one person may not trigger one in another.
Because asthma typically begins in childhood, children who are exposed to cigarette smoke while in utero or after birth may be at higher risk for developing asthma than children who are not. This exposure may also result in a greater severity of symptoms, explains Health Insite.
Children may also have an increased sensitivity to mold, dust mites and animal dander if they are predisposed to asthma because of various factors, such as cigarette smoke or genetics.
Additional allergies include pollen, allergies to certain foods, air pollution and certain over-the-counter medications, such as aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen.
Genetic Factors
Asthma has a tendency to run in families, according to both the Mayo Clinic and Aurora Health Care. People whose immediate family members are diagnosed with asthma have an increased risk of developing this condition themselves. Immediate family members constitute father, mother or siblings.
This risk is increased by environmental factors, such as allergens. If there is no genetic factor, however, there is less of a chance that environmental factors will be as significant.
Sedentary Lifestyle
In some cases, exercise can induce an asthma attack. However, Health Insite states that lack of exercise may actually increase one's risk of developing asthma when exposed to minor irritants, such as pet dander, because the the airways of the lungs are not being stretched properly, making them more prone to abnormal contraction and constriction. Regular exercise, on the other hand, helps stretch the airways on a regular basis, giving them a greater defense against these irritants when exposed.
Obesity
The Mayo Clinic states that obesity is a risk factor for developing asthma. However, in a report printed in the July 2005 edition of "Pulmonary Reviews," a monthly news magazine for physicians who specialize in pulmonary and critical care medicine, this theory is backed further.
In this specific report, it is stated that obese patients who suffer from severe asthma comprise 75 percent of asthma-related emergency room visits each year. It goes on to state that once obese patients lose weight, there is a decrease in their asthma symptoms and the severity of them.
Furthermore, the report states that obese children typically suffer from a stunt in lung and airway growth and development, both of which increase the chances of developing asthma and the severity of its symptoms.
