How Does Hygiene Affect Asthma?

The role hygiene plays with asthma is one that has been controversial for many years; in fact, its role may work in two very different ways.

An Epidemic

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration states that asthma is the most common chronic disease in the developed world.

The "Hygiene Hypothesis"

• Asthma is so predominant that some researchers feel an overly clean environment in childhood could prevent an individual from developing a proper immune system, thus causing asthma, according to the FDA's website.

Hygiene Hypothesis Challenged

• According to Science Daily, the hygiene hypothesis has been tested in a day care environment where pulmonary issues ran rampant. Ultimately, although these children were exposed to a variety of illnesses, they showed no lower sign of asthma in adulthood.

Allergens

• Conversely, hygiene can play a role within asthmatics whose asthma is exacerbated by allergens. If these individuals are exposed to allergens and do not keep good hygiene, they will experience more problems with their asthma.

Conclusion

• The controversy over whether hygiene plays a role in the development of asthma will continue as more and more researchers find evidence supporting and evidence against. Certainly, in adulthood, keeping a clean home environment and self is beneficial to the asthmatic.