Cause of Asthma : Factors Responsible for Causing The Disease

Asthma is a very common disease and we often hear about various cause of asthma. The main or primary cause of an asthma attack is the narrowing of small air passages of the lungs due to swelling, thus restricting easy flow of air to the lungs. What causes this condition from time to time, in a patient, can be termed as the secondary cause of the disease. The secondary cause or ‘trigger’ can vary vastly from person to person.

The occurrence of asthma in a person can be due to various reasons. The causes of asthma in a person can be: inherited asthma genes from parents or grandparents, contracting it due to exposure to certain harmful elements in the environment like pollution or cigarette smoke or a combination of both. Therefore, if a person with a family history of asthma is exposed to polluted surroundings, the chances of him contracting the disease are almost certain. It can also be caused as a side effect of some heavy medication or an acute illness.   However, this disease is definitely not infectious. Asthma can occur at any age and in either sex.

The other cause of asthma, also called trigger, are the factors, which cause an asthmatic attack in a person suffering from asthma. If an asthma patient can recognize these factors, he or she can control the disease to a great extent and live a healthy and active life. The most common triggers are: pollution, pollen, molds, pets or dust mites at home; and active or passive smoking. All these are environmental factors. Allergy to certain medicines or common illnesses like cold and flu is also a cause of asthma. Although rare, certain foods can also set off asthma symptoms. Common among these foods are nuts, eggs or fish.

 

 Some particular emotions like mental stress, nervousness or fear tend to trigger the symptoms in many patients. Exercising is also one such factor. Rigorous and extensive exercise can trigger an asthma attack. On the other hand, as in any other physical ailment, a proper exercise regime is bound to have a positive impact on the disease.

 

More and more cases of asthma are seen each year, all over the globe. Modernity in developed countries is often pointed to as a probable cause. Our modern lifestyle is slowly drifting us away from natural environment. We live on processed foods and spend our day and night in air-conditioned or heated offices and homes, where there is no fresh air. Earlier, there were lesser cases of asthma as children built stronger immunity to environmental allergies. This happened while they played in not so hygienic atmosphere and consumed fresh foods.

 

Asthma is most commonly recognizable by symptoms like difficulty in breathing, a feeling of tautness in chest and heavy wheezing. The duration of attack could be anything from an hour to a few days. Frequency can vary from a few days to several years, from patient to patient, depending on the gravity of the disease. The magnitude or severity of asthma can be categorized into mild, moderate or acute asthma.

 

Although asthma is not completely curable, it can be controlled with proper medication and care. Conventional medicines as well alternative treatments are reported to have benefited asthma patients. Basically, if you can manage the main cause of asthma, half the battle is won.