Healthy Indoors Magazine
Issue link: https://hi.healthyindoors.com/i/850363
Healthy Indoors 9 Figure A shows the location of the lungs and air- ways in the body. Figure B shows a cross-section of a normal airway. Figure C shows a cross-section of an airway during asthma symp- toms. What Causes Asthma? The exact cause of asthma isn't known. Re- searchers think some genetic and environmental factors interact to cause asthma, most often early in life. These factors include: • An inherited tendency to develop allergies, called atopy (AT-o-pe) • Parents who have asthma • Certain respiratory infections during childhood • Contact with some airborne allergens or ex- posure to some viral infections in infancy or in early childhood when the immune system is developing If asthma or atopy runs in your family, expo- sure to irritants (for example, tobacco smoke) may make your airways more reactive to sub- stances in the air. Some factors may be more likely to cause asthma in some people than in others. Research- ers continue to explore what causes asthma. The "Hygiene Hypothesis" One theory researchers have for what causes asthma is the "hygiene hypothesis." They believe that our Western lifestyle—with its emphasis on hygiene and sanitation—has resulted in changes in our living conditions and an overall decline in infections in early childhood. Many young children no longer have the same To understand asthma, it helps to know how the airways work. The airways are tubes that car- ry air into and out of your lungs. People who have asthma have inflamed airways. The inflammation makes the airways swollen and very sensitive. The airways tend to react strongly to certain in- haled substances. When the airways react, the muscles around them tighten. This narrows the airways, causing less air to flow into the lungs. The swelling also can worsen, making the airways even narrower. Cells in the airways might make more mucus than usual. Mucus is a sticky, thick liquid that can fur- ther narrow the airways. This chain reaction can result in asthma symp- toms. Symptoms can happen each time the air- ways are inflamed. Asthma Sometimes asthma symptoms are mild and go away on their own or after minimal treatment with asthma medicine. Other times, symptoms contin- ue to get worse. When symptoms get more intense and/or more symptoms occur, you're having an asthma attack. Asthma attacks also are called flareups or exacerbations (eg-zas-er-BA-shuns). Treating symptoms when you first notice them is important. This will help prevent the symptoms from worsening and causing a severe asthma at- tack. Severe asthma attacks may require emer- gency care, and they can be fatal. Asthma has no cure. Even when you feel fine, you still have the disease and it can flare up at any time. However, with today's knowledge and treat- ments, most people who have asthma are able to manage the disease. They have few, if any, symptoms. They can live normal, active lives and sleep through the night without interruption from asthma. If you have asthma, you can take an active role in managing the disease. For successful, thorough, and ongoing treatment, build strong partnerships with your doctor and other health care providers.