Asthma
Description
Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the lung. This inflammatory process can occur along the entire airway from the nose to the lung. Once the airway becomes swollen and inflamed it becomes narrower, allowing less air through to the lung tissue and causing symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and trouble breathing. Once considered a minor ailment affecting only a small portion of the population, asthma is now the most common chronic disorder of childhood, and affects an estimated 6.2 million children under the age of 18. The fact that asthma runs in families suggests that genetic factors play an important role in the development of the disease, however, environmental factors also contribute to the disease process. Asthma can be triggered by a wide range of substances called allergens.
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Health Studies & Clinical Trials
- Asthma Severity in Children and Environmental Agents
- Dust Mite Allergen Reduction Study
- Mexico Childhood Asthma
- Ozone and Rhinovirus-Induced Disease in Asthmatics
- The HEAL Study (http://heal.niehs.nih.gov/)
What NIEHS is Doing on Asthma
- Ho group uses saliva for study on methylation in asthma (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2013/2/science-ho/index.htm)
- Workshop addresses the millions who die yearly from household air pollution (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/11/spotlight-workshophousehold/index.htm)
- Household contaminants associated with childhood respiratory problems (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/11/science-householdcontaminants/index.htm)
- A Human Health Perspective On Climate Change (4MB)
- Acetaminophen May Increase the Risk of Developing Asthma
- Acute Respiratory Inflammation in Children and Black Carbon in Ambient Air before and during the 2008 Beijing Olympics (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.1103461)
- Addressing New Challenges in Children’s Environmental Health (314KB)
- African Ancestry and Asthma
- Aggravating Factors of Asthma in Hispanic Farm Workers
- Allergens & Irritants
- Allergy and Sensitization during Childhood Associated with Prenatal and Lactational Exposure to Marine Pollutants (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.1002289)
- Allergy research uncovers heart attack link (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/10/science-allergymi/index.htm)
- Application of Computational Systems Biology to Explore Environmental Toxicity Hazards (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.1103533)
- Asthma and Allergies and their Environmental Triggers
- Asthma and Wheeze in Young Women Taking Oral Contraceptives
- Asthma Development in Athletic Children Exposed to Ozone
- Asthma Exacerbated by Exposure to Florida Red-Tide Toxins
- Asthma in Elementary School Children is Associated with Proximity to Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations
- Asthma Intervention in New York City: A Community Based Participatory Research Project
- Asthma in Rural Iowa Schoolchildren
- Asthma Symptoms in Children Associated with Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy
- Birnbaum presents Whittenberger Symposium keynote lecture (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/january/science-birnbaum.cfm)
- (Bi)sulfite Oxidation by Copper,Zinc-Superoxide Dismutase: Sulfite-Derived, Radical-Initiated Protein Radical Formation (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.0901533)
- Black Haw Bark Extract
- Bridging Medical Information Gap on Environmental Health (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2005/november/spotlight-bridging.cfm)
- Caffeine
- Cat Exposure Can Protect from Asthma - But There's an Exception: It Increases Asthma Risk for Children of Asthmatic Mothers
- Cell Biology Group
- Child Development and Environmental Toxins (633KB)
- Changes in Asthma-Like Responses after Extended Removal from Exposure to Trimellitic Anhydride in the Brown Norway Rat Model
- Childhood Incident Asthma and Traffic-Related Air Pollution at Home and School (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.0901232)
- Children, Males, and Blacks at Increased Risk for Food Allergies (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2010/november/science-children.cfm)
- Chromatin & Gene Expression Group
- Clean Air Extends Life Expectancy
- Clinical Pathology Group
- Early-life exposure to secondhand smoke affects girls more than boys (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/5/science-earlylife/index.htm)
- Effect of Early Life Exposure to Air Pollution on Development of Childhood Asthma (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.0900916)
- Elevated Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Concentrations Amplify Alternaria alternata Sporulation and Total Antigen Production (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.0901867)
- Environmental Cardiopulmonary Disease Group
- Environmental Public Health: The Power of Partnerships (2MB)
- Exploring Gender Differences in Lung Function (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2006/february/science-exploring.cfm)
- Feasibility of Assessing Public Health Impacts of Air Pollution Reduction Programs on a Local Scale: New Haven Case Study (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.1002636)
- Formaldehyde Exposure and Lower Respiratory Infections in Infants: Findings from the PARIS Cohort Study (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.1003222)
- Foundation Commits $2M More to Asthma Study (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2010/october/spotlight-foundation.cfm)
- Gas Stove Emissions Worsen Asthma Symptoms
- Genetic Susceptibility, Maternal Smoking, and Environmental Tobacco Smoke All Contribute to Asthma in Children
- Genetics, Environment & Respiratory Disease Group
- Genome-Wide Association Study Focuses on Asthma in Children (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2009/october/science-asthma.cfm)
- Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies Asthma Gene
- Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves
- Grantee Honored for Allergy Research (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2010/july/spotlight-grantee.cfm)
- Host Susceptibility Program
- Immune Regulator Exerts Control over Inflammation but not Airway Hyperresponsiveness
- Immunogenetics Group
- Immunology
- Impact of Traffic-Related Particles on Asthma for Students in an Urban School District
- Increased Allergen Levels in Homes Linked to Asthma (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2008/march/allergen.cfm)
- Infants Exposed to Specific Molds have Higher Asthma Risk (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/9/science-molds/index.htm)
- Investigative Pathology Group
- Jordt Extends ONES Research on TRPA1 in Study on Asthma (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2009/july/science-jordt.cfm)
- Late-Breaking Abstracts
- Link Between Thunderstorms and Asthma Attacks in the Atlanta Metro Area
- Let's Talk about... INDOOR AIR
- Low-Level Ozone and Particulate Matter Pollution is Associated with Respiratory Symptoms in Children with Asthma
- LSU ONES Awardee Links Protein Misfolding to Ultrafine PM (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2009/july/science-protein.cfm)
- Mama Didn't Know
- Mechanisms of Asthma-Dietary Interventions Against Environmental Triggers
- Meta Analysis Confirms Great Asthma Risk from Asthmatic Mothers vs. Fathers
- Maternal Smoking and Receptor Gene Variant Combine to Increase Risk for Childhood Asthma
- Mold Exposure in First Year of Life May Lead to Asthma Development
- Molecular Endocrinology Group
- Naturally Occurring Bronchodilator Protects Laboratory Animals Against Asthma
- New Data Analysis Shows Possible Link Between Childhood Obesity and Allergies
- New Treatment Found for Ozone-Caused Wheezing
- NIEHS to Help New Orleans HEAL (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2006/november/spotlight-help.cfm)
- NIEHS Hosts Children's Environmental Health Workshop (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2007/february/spotlight-hosts.cfm)
- "North Carolina Now" Airs Segments on Asthma and Nanotech (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2006/september/inside-north.cfm)
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Group
- Obesity and Asthma Risk
- Papaverine Hydrochloride
- Particulate Matter–Induced Airway Hyperresponsiveness Is Lymphocyte Dependent (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.0901461)
- Peat Bog Wildfire Smoke Exposure in Rural North Carolina Is Associated with Cardiopulmonary Emergency Department Visits Assessed through Syndromic Surveillance (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.1003206)
- Personal Exposures to Traffic-Related Air Pollution and Acute Respiratory Health among Bronx Schoolchildren with Asthma (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.1002653)
- Pollution
- Pollution and obesity impact asthma control in seniors (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/7/science-seniorsasthma/index.htm)
- Potential Discovery of New Asthma Therapy
- Possible Link Between Childhood Obesity and Allergies (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2009/june/possible-link.cfm)
- Programs and Initiatives: Climate Change and Human Health
- Researchers Find Link Between Cholesterol and Asthma (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2009/november/science-researchers.cfm)
- Researchers Report Lessons Learned from Katrina (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/9/science-katrina/index.htm)
- Residential Traffic-Related Pollution Exposures and Exhaled Nitric Oxide in the Children’s Health Study (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.1103516)
- Respiratory Disease and the Environment (1MB)
- Rosie and Riff Talk to Dr. Cindy Jumper, a Lung Doctor
- S-nitrosothiols: Possibilities in Fighting Asthma and Heart Disease
- Short-Term Effects of Air Pollution on Wheeze in Asthmatic Children in Fresno, California (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.0901292)
- Study Finds Traffic Pollution Leading to Asthma Has Huge Economic Costs (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/3/science-traffic-pollution/index.htm)
- Study Identifies Role of Mold in Asthma Development (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/september/science-asthma/index.cfm)
- Study Links Maternal Exhaust Exposure to Childhood Asthma (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2009/april/study-links.cfm)
- Three Measures of Forest Fire Smoke Exposure and Their Associations with Respiratory and Cardiovascular Health Outcomes in a Population-Based Cohort (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.1002288)
- Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Ambient Endotoxin Concentrations in Fresno, California (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.0901602)
- Traffic-Related Particulate Matter and Acute Respiratory Symptoms among New York City Area Adolescents (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.0901499)
- UNC TV Focus On Health: Asthma Research at NIEHS
- Volunteers translate NIEHS cookstove research in Guatemala
- What is in Dust?
- What’s in the Pool? A Comprehensive Identification of Disinfection By-products and Assessment of Mutagenicity of Chlorinated and Brominated Swimming Pool Water (http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.1001965)
- Wood Stove Intervention Can Reduce Childhood Pneumonia (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/december/science-woodstove/index.cfm)
General Information
- Air Pollution's Effects
- Asthma and Its Environmental Triggers (3MB)
- CDC: Asthma - The CDC has compiled a list of resources about triggers if Asthma, FactStats for asthma, healthcare links, and information children and adults about the disease.
- Cigarette smoke
- Cockroaches
- Community Action Against Asthma Fact Sheet on "Particulate Matter" (English) (163KB)
- Community Action Against Asthma Fact Sheet on "Particulate Matter" (Spanish) (221KB)
- Dust Mites
- Environmental Diseases from A to Z (4MB)
- Environmental Health Perspectives: Scents and Sensitivity
- Environmental Management of Pediatric Asthma: Guidelines for Health Care Providers
- EPA's Asthma Program - The EPA has created program for raising awareness about asthma and its indoor triggers. They provide links to information about Asthma, Outreach, Resource links, and Basic facts about the condition.
- Household Products Database: Health Effects
- INHALERS: Video turorial on model differences and proper usage
- Mold
- Pets and Animals
- Pollen
- Preventing Asthma: A Landlord¿s Guide to Property Maintenance for Healthy Homes (253KB)
- Selected Online Resources about Asthma - The National Library of Medicine has compiled these links to government and non-profit organizations disseminating information and conducting research on asthma.
- Thinking About Asthma: A Developer's Guide to Building a Healthy Home (117KB)
- The Interagency Working Group on Climate Change and Health (1MB)
For Educators
- Asthma Action Plan (804KB)
- Asthma and the Air You Breathe (275KB)
- Community Action and the Environment - Can You Help Save the Environment? (611KB)
- EHP Student Edition Lesson: Chlorine, Asthma, and Blackworms? (254KB)
- Highlights of Asthma Basics: Education Points for Families (95KB)