by Erich Rosenberger M.D.

Created on: March 11, 2008

Asthma can be a debilitating disease, affecting millions of people worldwide. A severe asthma attack can be extremely frightening. An effected person will experience shortness of breath, and a feeling that they are suffocating. The causes of asthma can be quite complex. Doctors and scientists have spent innumerable resources in determining what the risk factors for developing asthma are. Fortunately, some answers have been obtained.

The most common involved in developing asthma include smoking, obesity, allergies, infections, and gender. This article we'll take a look at each of these risk factors and its role in the potential development of asthma.

Smoking

The first risk factor for developing asthma is smoking. Numerous studies have found a link between active smoking of cigarettes and the development of asthma. In addition, it is possible for asthma which is caused by factors other than smoking to be made worse by exposure to cigarette smoke.

The role of secondhand smoke in the development of asthma is still being investigated, and remains controversial. There is a growing amount of evidence suggesting that exposure to secondhand smoke may be a risk factor for children developing asthma at a young age. In addition to secondhand smoke, there is some evidence to suggest that a mother who smokes while she is pregnant may reduce the lung function of the fetus before it is born. Damage to the lungs before a baby is born can increase its chance of developing asthma later in life.

Obesity

The next risk factor for developing asthma is obesity. Numerous studies have looked for a link between the development of asthma and obesity. There is significant evidence to demonstrate a connection between being overweight and the development of asthma later in life. Despite this risk, it is uncertain exactly what role obesity plays in the development of asthma, or how important a risk factor this is. Certainly an obese person should attempt to lose weight for many health reasons in addition to lowering the risk for asthma.

Allergies

The development of allergies and asthma together has been a well-established association for many years. A significant body of evidence has shown a link between the development of asthma in people who are predisposed to various other allergies. In fact, many causes of asthma are believed to be associated with overactive immune responses. These immune system responses react to substances in the environment, creating a cascade of chemical events which lead

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