What Causes Asthma?My first reaction was to find out what causes asthma when my son was first diagnosed with several years ago. And get rid of it. I assumed that whatever was making him so uncomfortable must be in my house somewhere. And I wanted to find it and get it out to the curb before the next trash day. Okay, I admit it. I was still a bit naive, thinking that pulling out all the carpeting in our home would be the end of asthma for my son. But learning about what causes asthma really did play an important part in helping us learn how to control it and eliminate his symptoms most of the time. A physical description of what causes asthma is fairly straight forward - but the rest is much more difficult to narrow down. On this page, I'll share:
The more I learned about the physical reaction to the combination of various triggers, genetics, allergies, - and the presence of medications and steroids in the body... ...the more I decided to rearrange our lifestyle so our son could live more comfortably in his own home. A few changes in our diet, cleaning products, and other items we use regularly did make a big difference for our son. But before making changes, it was important to understand what causes asthma so we could have a clear picture of what we were trying to improve. What Causes Asthma: Inside the Body The Cambridge Dictionary of American English defines asthma as...: '...a chest disease in which breathing can become difficult, often caused by an allergic reaction'. A great definition, but why does the breathing become difficult? I'm sure you've seen all of the diagrams and charts at the doctor's office, so I won't rehash all of the medical terms and details here. So here's the bottom line with as little medical jargon as possible: Photographer J. Natiuk did a great job of showing just how small the airways in the lungs actually are in his photo of plasticized lungs. You can imagine how small they must be in young children. Didn't see it? Here it is for you to get a good look:
When this happens, the bronchi often produce mucus which blocks the airways even more. Sometimes, both situations may happen at the same time - which is why having an asthma plan and rescue medicines available are so important. To be even more clear... ...imagine a straw that is being squeezed on all sides by a rubber band wrapped around it. Now imagine that the straw swells up and narrows the open path inside. Last, imagine that the inside of the straw is also full of something sticky - like molasses. Now... ...imagine picking up that straw and trying to breathe through it. Get the picture? Not much fun - especially for children with asthma. What Causes Asthma: External Factors and Genetics It seems that nobody is completely sure why some people have asthma. Sure, we can give a good explanation about what happens in the body during an asthma attack - but what's the actual cause? Some people say that there is a genetic factor to asthma. It might true that you are more likely to have asthma if someone in your family does. My son's grandfather has mild asthma, but none of the other grandchildren appear to be having issues with it. On the other side of the family, some of the kids have had asthma problems - but nobody else seeems to have experienced it. It's also pretty common for kids with asthma to also have allergy symptoms and skin problems (like eczema). My son certainly does. It's also interesting to note that his sister, who is asthma-free, also has mild seasonal allergies and moderately severe eczema. In some people, exercise or stress can bring on asthma attacks. In others, especially children, asthma can be brought on by viruses or colds. (That's what we experience with our son - he has much more trouble when he's been sick). It also goes almost without saying that second-hand smoke can bring on asthma attacks, too. The Britannica Online Encyclopedia says that asthma is a ...'...Chronic disease with attacks of shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing from constriction and mucous-membrane swelling in the bronchi (air passageways in the lungs). It is caused primarily by allergy or respiratory infection. Secondhand smoke can cause asthma in children. Asthma is common and runs in families; predisposition may be hereditary. In established asthmatics, exercise, stress, and sudden changes in temperature or humidity can bring on attacks. Attacks usually last from a half hour to several hours; severe attacks can be fatal.' Asthma Triggers Last, I wanted to share a few things about asthma triggers , but there was so much to say I made it it's own page . Be sure to check it out for some more great information Return to Top of What Causes Asthma
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