Common Risk Factors for Asthma

The respiratory disease asthma disrupts lives and can even be fatal. Some demographics seem to develop asthma more often than others. You should always be on the lookout for asthma symptoms if you fall in the high-risk category. Below are some of the known risk factors for asthma.

Family Health History

Genetics play a role in asthma susceptibility. Thus, you have a high risk of asthma if you have close relatives with the condition. According to the Global Allergy & Airways Patient Platform, having one asthmatic parent puts your risk of asthma at 25%. Having two asthmatic parents doubles the risk. Scientists have even identified genes that play a role in asthma susceptibility.

Sex and Age

In addition to family history, sex also plays a role in asthma risk. The level of risk by sex is interesting since it fluctuates with age. For example:

• For prepubescent children, boys are more likely to get asthma than girls.
• After puberty, girls are more likely to develop asthma than boys.
• Both sexes have similar asthma risks around age 20.
• From age 40, women have a higher risk of asthma than men.

The risk of severity also varies, with women more likely to experience severe attacks than men.

Air Pollution

Some air pollutants increase the risk of developing asthma. Examples of such pollutants include:

• Dust particles
• Chemical fumes
• Metal particles
• Hair, fur, and pet dander
• Plant pollen

When you breathe in such pollutants, your body's defense mechanism releases white blood cells to target the invaders. The white blood cells trigger inflammatory responses. Inflammation in the airway then triggers asthma. Thus, those with frequent exposure to polluted air have high incidences of asthma. Examples include:

• Those who work in polluted places, such as metalworkers, hairdressers, and bakers
• Those who live in smog-filled neighborhoods
• Those who live near highways (think car exhaust)

Some people, such as those who suffer from allergies, are more affected by these irritants than others.

Respiratory Infections

Anything that affects the normal health of your airways can lead to asthma. For example, respiratory infections that inflame the airways also increase asthma risk. Examples of such respiratory infections include the flu, the common cold, and pneumonia. Just like allergens, such infections are dangerous since they can inflame the linings of the airways.

Obesity

Obesity is a precursor to multiple health conditions. For example, obesity and asthma have a link, with each condition seemingly triggering the other one. Doctors and scientists have put forward several theories to explain the link.

One theory is that, in people who are obese, fat tissues produce inflammatory agents and decrease anti-inflammatory agents' production. As mentioned above, the inflammation of the airways can trigger asthma.

Another theory is that obesity suppresses several aspects of the immune system, including those fighting allergic reactions. As previously mentioned, susceptibility to allergic reactions increases the risk of asthma.

Stress

Your psychological and physical health go hand in hand in many ways. For example, stress increases your risk of asthma. The exact role of stress is not clear, but doctors have several theories in mind. One theory is that the way your body responds to stress might trigger an extreme immune response that can lead to airway inflammation.

A high risk of asthma doesn't mean that you will develop asthma. Whether you have a high or low risk of asthma, you should seek medical advice if you suspect the illness. Allergy and Asthma Clinic of Fort Worth has skilled, experienced, and caring staff. Contact us for a consultation to diagnose your condition and give you the treatment you deserve. We look forward to helping you.