by Andy Orrell

Created on: July 17, 2010

Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways that affects millions of people all over the world. A person suffering from asthma suffers from shortness of breathe, wheezing and a tight chest. In a severe asthma attack these symptoms can be very acute and be truly frightening for the individual. However in most cases asthma is quite a manageable disease that can be controlled using simple medication. The best cure though is without a doubt simple prevention. We will now look at two areas of asthma, first of all the possible cause for people who develop asthma. Second we will examine the likely triggers for people who already suffer from asthma.

What May Cause Asthma To Develop

Genes - The most common reason for someone to develop asthma is simple genes. Asthma is a condition that is often passed on through the generations. This means if someone in your immediate family suffers from asthma there is a greater chance that you will suffer from asthma.

Smoking - It has been proven that mothers who smoke while the child is in the womb put their child at risk of developing asthma. Studies have also shown that people who do smoke greatly increase their chances of developing asthma later in life. There have also been recent studies into the issue of second hand smoke, it is now thought that this can also be a factor in people developing the disease.

Obesity - This is another factor that can greatly increase someone’s chances of developing asthma. People who are over weight and unfit have been proven to be more likely to develop the condition at some point in their lives. People who already suffer from asthma usually suffer from more serious symptoms and enhance their chances of serious attacks.

Allergies - There is a proven link to allergies and asthma. People who suffer from things such as hay fever or other airborne allergens are much more likely to develop asthma at some point in their lives. People who already suffer from asthma find their condition gets far worse when their allergies flair up.

What Can Trigger Asthma In A Patient?

Infections - Although it’s thought that infections can not cause asthma to develop in someone they can aggravate the condition. An infection of the respiratory tract either viral or bacterial can cause symptoms to spring up. Developing a simple cold can also lead to enhanced symptoms of asthma.

Medication - Certain medications can cause some people’s asthma to react in a negative way. The most commonly known problem

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