Asthma: Causes and who is at risk!

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic (long-term) lung disease that makes breathing difficult.  It affects your lungs, the part of your body that helps you breathe.

While suffering from Asthma, your airways (the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs) get swollen and narrow. This can make it hard to breathe and cause coughing, wheezing, and a tight feeling in your chest.

When these symptoms get worse, that condition is known as Asthma Attack.

What Causes Asthma?

Doctors are not sure exactly about the cause of asthma. It is usually the genes and the environment that are considered as triggers for Asthma.

Sometimes, these "triggers" can make the symptoms of asthma worse. These triggers may vary from person to person.

Common types of Asthma:

• Allergic Asthma: Things that may cause allergy like dust, molds, pets, pollens from grass, trees and weeds and body wastes from cockroaches and mice are known to cause Allergic Asthma.
• Non- Allergic Asthma: These are caused by triggers that are not allergic. Breathing in cold air, certain medicines and chemicals, cold and flu infections, pollution and tobacco smoke are some triggers that cause Non-Allergic Asthma.
• Exercise induced Asthma: Exercising can trigger asthma in some people, especially when the air is dry.
• Occupational Asthma:  Breathing in chemicals or industrial dust at work can be a trigger to Asthma.

Asthma triggers may be different for every individual and may change over time.

Who is at risk of getting Asthma?

Though Asthma is more common in children, it can affect anyone at any age. Some factors that can increase your risk of getting asthma include:

• Family history: If your parents (specially mother) or siblings have asthma, you are more likely to get it too.
• Allergies: People with allergies are more likely to have asthma.
• Exposure to smoke: Being exposed to cigarette smoke or other types of smoke can increase your risk.
• Being exposed to certain substances: such as chemical irritants or industrial dust at work.
• Air pollution: Living in a place with poor air quality can also increase your risk.
• Other diseases or conditions such as obesity and allergies increases the risk of Asthma.

Conclusion:

Asthma can significantly impact a person's quality of life. While the exact causes remain unknown, it's clear that a combination of genetic and environmental factors play a crucial role. Identifying and managing triggers like allergens, irritants, and respiratory infections is key to controlling asthma symptoms.

If you suspect you or someone you know may have asthma, it's important to consult with your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment. With appropriate medical care and lifestyle adjustments, individuals with asthma can effectively manage their condition and lead fulfilling lives.

Source:-https://medlineplus.gov/asthma.html