Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Who is at High Risk of Having Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic disease that causes inflammation in the airways of your lungs, making breathing difficult. It is common in children, and many people outgrow it. If not treated properly, asthma El Centro can result in severe complications. Some people with asthma may have no symptoms, while others only experience symptoms during exercise.

Below we discuss people who are at high risk of having asthma.

People who have a family history of asthma

A family history of asthma is the strongest predictor of developing the condition. About 20% of people with asthma have a first-degree relative (parent, brother, or sister) with asthma. If you have a family history of asthma, you are more likely to develop it yourself. Your risk increases if one of your parents had asthma or allergies as a child.

People who are overweight or obese

People with a BMI over 30 are at a higher risk of developing asthma. Obesity increases the air you need to inhale, leading to asthma symptoms like wheezing, breathlessness, and chest tightness.

People who smoke

Doctors link smoking to both adult-onset and childhood-onset asthma. Smoking increases your risk of developing an allergy, such as hay fever or eczema, at a younger age. Exposure to tobacco smoke also increases the risk of wheezing and other symptoms associated with asthma. Smoking also decreases the ability to control symptoms by increasing airway inflammation and narrowing airways.

People who live in a polluted environment

People who live in a polluted environment, such as living in a bigger city, are at high risk of having asthma. It is because air pollution causes an increase in the amount of dust and other particles that get into the lungs. These pollutants can irritate the airways, causing them to become inflamed. The inflammation causes mucus to build up in the airways, which makes breathing difficult.

People with Asian ancestry

The gene mutation that causes asthma, known as the “snowflake” allele, is found more commonly in people with Asian ancestry than in other groups. However, there is no clear evidence that having this gene mutation makes you more likely to develop asthma.

Children born prematurely

Premature babies are more likely to develop asthma than full-term babies. Several studies have shown that if a baby is born before 37 weeks, they are more likely to develop asthma later in life.

Young people

Children under five years of age are more likely to develop asthma than adults. That could be due to their immature immune system or because they spend more time indoors, exposed to potential triggers such as dust mite allergens or pet dander.

 

Asthma can be mild and short-term or so severe that it requires frequent treatment with medications to stop further complications. The most common symptoms are shortness of breath, chest tightness, and wheezing. Asthma can also cause coughing, sneezing, and rapid breathing. If you are experiencing these symptoms or suspect your loved one has asthma, you should contact your doctor for examination and treatment. Contact Prabhdeep Singh, MD, FACP, and request an appointment with a doctor to learn more about asthma treatment and prevention options.

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