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Why Do People Get Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that is characterized by inflamed and constricted airways. Sufferers of asthma experience breathlessness, tightness of chest, wheezing and coughing. An estimated 300 million people suffer from asthma in the world. Nearly 22 million people, including 6 million children, in the U.S. have asthma. If not managed properly, it can deteriorate considerably the quality of life of an affected person.

  1. Inflammation

    • The airways of the lungs of asthma-affected people are inflamed. Airways are the tubes that carry air into and out of the lungs. Inflamed airways of asthma patients are swollen and more sensitive than normal. We know that the air we breathe in is not pure and may carry several particles and substances. When these substances pass through the airways of asthma affected people, the already sensitive airways react strongly, leading to asthma symptoms.

    Airways Constriction

    • When the lining of the sensitive airways of an asthma patient gets irritated it leads to production of mucus and tightening of the muscles of the airways. The airways become narrow, allowing very little room for passage of air. This produces the breathlessness symptom, which further leads to chest congestion.

    The Family Connection

    • Doctors till now haven't found out why some people get asthma while others don't, though they have explained in great detail "how" people get asthma and what happens during asthma attacks. However, it is often noted that asthma may run in families.

    Triggers of Asthma

    • An asthma attack can be triggered by cold air, vigorous exercise and stress. Allergens in the air can irritate the airways and trigger an asthma attack. Allergens include: polluted air and smoke, dust, pollen, animal danders, some foods and perfumes. Two asthma patients may have different allergens that can trigger an attack.

      Some asthma affected people get asthma during particular times of the year. While asthma attacks may last for a few hours in one person and go away another may have to deal with them on a daily basis.

    Obesity

    • Recent research shows that obese people may end up having asthma. Obese people account for 75 percent of asthma-related emergency room visits. Researchers at the Physiology Program at the Harvard School of Public Health are of the opinion that obese people have under-expanded lungs. This could narrow airways. Moreover, the obese have low-grade systemic inflammation of the airways. These factors could explain why obese people are more likely to have asthma.

      Modern medicine helps people with asthma to live a better life. People with asthma should seek immediate medical care and learn how to avoid attacks as well as minimize the effects of an attack. The possibility of keeping asthma attacks at bay with yoga as an adjunct therapy also should be explored under the guidance of a certified yoga teacher and after obtaining the permission of a doctor.

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