If you have asthma, your airways are blocked, and it is sometimes hard to breathe normally. Asthma can cause periods of severe shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain and many other symptoms. The good news is that asthma can be managed. Learning to avoid your personal triggers, making healthy lifestyle choices and taking medication can all help you to remain active. Why some people get asthma and others do not is not well understood, but there are some possible asthma risk factors. If you have them, take steps to try to control the severity of this condition.
Genetics and Infections in Childhood
According to the Mayo Clinic, asthma may run in the family. If one or more close family members have asthma, you are more likely to get this disease. In addition, if you were born underweight or suffered from multiple respiratory infections while growing up, your lungs may be weaker and more susceptible to conditions such as asthma. If you have a family history of asthma or another risk factor, it does not mean that you have to get asthma. You and your doctor can take steps to try to prevent this condition or to reduce the severity of it.
Smoking and Secondhand Smoke
The Cleveland Clinic claims that tobacco damages the linings in your airways. It can also destroy the tiny hairs that help to clean the air you breathe. Damage to these structures can lead to the development of asthma and can cause an exacerbation of your symptoms if you already have asthma. Exposure to secondhand smoke can be just as bad. If you spend time around others who smoke or if you work indoors where people smoke, your lungs can become just as damaged and inflamed as if you smoked yourself. This is especially a concern with children, whose lungs are not fully developed. They are more susceptible to others smoking around them.
Pollution/Chemicals
The Natural Resources Defense Council states that you do not have to have any risk factors to develop asthma. Some people are predisposed to this condition. However, another risk factor is working in an job where you are exposed to strong chemicals or irritants. This raises your risk of getting asthma. Asthma can also be the result of living in an area with high levels of pollution. This is especially true if you suffer from any allergies, because your lungs are already sensitive to the environment. If you have allergies and you are exposed to additional irritants, your risk of asthma goes up. Pollution not only plays a role in the development of asthma, it is also a major trigger for asthma attacks.
Age and Other Health Problems
If you have a chronic medical condition that affects your ability to breathe, your risk for asthma may rise. Since these types of medical conditions are more common in the elderly, your risk for developing asthma goes up with age, says the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology. The same is true for heart disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease. These conditions tend to limit the function of the lungs, leaving you more susceptible to this disease.
While the exact relationship is not yet known, obesity seems to increase the risk of asthma. This may be because the excess weight restricts the movement of the lungs. You should also be aware of the medications you are taking. Some of them may cause asthma-like symptoms as side effects.
