What Causes Asthma?
It is not clear exactly what makes the airways of
people with asthma inflamed in the first place. Your inflamed airways may be
due to a combination of things. We know that if other people in your family
have asthma, you are more likely to develop it. New research suggests that
being exposed to things like tobacco smoke, infections, and some allergens
early in your life may increase your chances of developing asthma.
What Causes Asthma Symptoms and Attacks?
There are things in the environment that bring on
your asthma symptoms and lead to asthma attacks. Some of the more common things
include exercise, allergens, irritants, and viral infections. Some people have
asthma only when they exercise or have a viral infection.
The list below gives some examples of things that
can bring on asthma symptoms.
Allergens
- Animal dander (from the skin, hair, or feathers
of animals)
- Dust mites (contained in house dust)
- Cockroaches
- Pollen from trees and grass
- Mold (indoor and outdoor)
Irritants
- Cigarette smoke
- Air pollution
- Cold air or changes in weather
- Strong odors from painting or cooking
- Scented products
- Strong emotional expression (including crying or
laughing hard) and stress
Others
- Medicines such as aspirin and beta-blockers
- Sulfites in food (dried fruit) or beverages
(wine)
- A condition called gastroesophageal
(GAS-tro-e-sof-o-JEE-al) reflux disease that causes heartburn and can worsen
asthma symptoms, especially at night
- Irritants or allergens that you may be exposed to
at your work, such as special chemicals or dusts
- Infections
This is not a complete list of all the things that
can bring on asthma symptoms. People can have trouble with one or more of
these. It is important for you to learn which ones are problems for you. Your
doctor can help you identify which things affect your asthma and ways to avoid
them. |