There are many potential causes of asthma, and the exact cause of the condition may vary from person to person. When you have asthma, your airways react to things in the world around you. Doctors call these asthma triggers. Some common factors that may contribute to the development of asthma include:
Genetics: People who have a family history of asthma are more likely to develop the condition themselves.
Environmental factors: Exposure to certain substances or conditions in the environment, such as tobacco smoke, pollution, and allergens, can increase the risk of developing asthma.
Infections: Respiratory infections, such as colds and the flu, can trigger asthma symptoms or make existing asthma worse.
Allergies: People with allergies are more likely to develop asthma, as the immune system’s response to allergens can lead to inflammation in the airways.
Obesity: Children and adults who are overweight or obese are at a greater risk of asthma. Although the reasons are unclear, some experts point to low-grade inflammation in the body that occurs with extra weight. Obese patients often use more medications, suffer worse symptoms and are less able to control their asthma than patients in a healthy weight range.
Stress: Stress and anxiety can trigger asthma symptoms or make existing asthma worse.
Smoking: Cigarette smoke irritates the airways. Smokers have a high risk of asthma. Those whose mothers smoked during pregnancy or who were exposed to secondhand smoke are also more likely to have asthma.
Occupational exposures: If you have asthma, exposures to certain elements in the workplace can cause asthma symptoms. And, for some people, exposure to certain dusts (industrial or wood dusts), chemical fumes and vapors, and molds can cause asthma to develop for the very first time.
Irritants: like strong odors from perfumes or cleaning solutions
Medicines: particularly anti-inflammatory painkillers like ibuprofen and aspirin
Food preservatives: called sulfites, found in things like shrimp, pickles, beer and wine, dried fruits, and bottled lemon and lime juices
Exercise: For some people, exercising can cause an attack.
It’s important to note that not all people with asthma will have the same triggers or experiences with the condition. Working with a healthcare provider can help you identify the specific triggers and factors that contribute to your asthma, and develop a treatment plan to manage the condition.