The Causes and Symptoms of Asthma

What is Asthma? Asthma is a very common condition. In the UK, it affects 5.4 million people, 1.1 million of whom are children.

Asthma is a condition that affects the Bronchi and bronchioles tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. They are only millimetres wide and made up of ring-shaped muscles that can contract or relax. When a person with asthma is exposed to something that irritates their airways the lining becomes inflamed and starts to swell. This also gives rise to the characteristic wheezy noise. Sometimes sticky mucus or phlegm builds up, causing further narrowing.

What are the causes? It is difficult to say for sure what causes asthma however there are known contributary factors that trigger it:

• Family history of asthma, eczema or allergies


• Smoking during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of the child developing asthma


• Children whose parents smoke are more likely to develop asthma


• Environmental pollution can make symptoms worse and may play a part in causing some asthma cases


• Adult onset asthma may develop after a viral infection


• Irritants found in the workplace may lead to a person developing asthma

Asthma is caused by external agents, such as irritants in the air that are breathed in, such as pollen, dust, mold and animal fur, or by internal reactions in the body that have been caused by external influences such as exertion, cold, smoke, scents and pollution.

To acquire asthma people seem to need to have been born with a disposition to it. However, the condition may not reveal itself until they have been exposed to an irritant. Lack of exposure to infection in early life, certain drugs, low birth-weight and well-insulated houses leading to a higher concentration of dust mites may also be part of the problem.

What are the signs and symptoms? The usual symptoms are coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and tightness in the chest. Not everyone will get all of these symptoms. Some people may experience them from time to time and a few may experience them all the time.

How can it be prevented? It is possible to prevent asthma by avoiding recognizable precipitants, such as dusts, smoke, infections and taking care with exercise. It can usually be well treated so that the symptoms give little trouble. Half of all children who develop asthma will grow out of it and for many adults asthma is variable with some good spells and some that aren't so good. Some people are worse in the winter months and others in the summer hay fever season. Smoking can cause long term lung damage which will reduce lung function still further so it is vital to stop smoking.