Primary Cause of Asthma

Asthma is a respiratory condition that affects children and adults. There are two basic primary causes for asthma. And while there is no cure, there are ways you can control your symptoms and try to live a normal life.

Symptoms

• Coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath are symptoms of asthma.

Primary Cause

• Inflammation of the airways causes asthma. This inflammation occurs because of environmental and genetic factors.

Environmental Factors

• Environmental factors that cause asthma include cold air, stress, air pollutants, and respiratory infections.

Genetic Factors

• Sometimes people have asthma because of genetic factors, such as a history of allergies in the family. A person who has a family history of asthma is at a higher risk of getting the disease.

Diagnosis

• If your doctor suspects that you have asthma, he will perform a physical exam to rule out other problems. He may also take a chest x-ray or perform a lung function test to check for asthma.

Treatment

• Two types of medications are prescribed for asthma: long-term control and quick-relief. Long-term control medications are taken daily to keep your airways open, and quick-relief medication often comes in the form of an inhaler that is used when you experience symptoms.