Environmental Factors and Asthma
Abstract
This paper discusses asthma and the environmental risk factors that can cause or initiate asthma symptoms. Asthma is an airway disease that can arise from a genetic background and common exposures to allergens and airborne irritants. Since major industrialization in Western, European, and Asian countries; there has been a rapid rise in the occurrence of asthma. More adults and children spend the majority of their time indoors. Indoor and outdoor air pollution has had an effect on this increase of asthmatic individuals. Non-allergic environmental risk factors include, occupational asthma due to chemicals and fumes within the work place. It also includes, exercise induced asthma, especially outdoors in high traffic areas. Allergens are a principal factor in causing asthma symptoms to occur. Allergic asthma is much more common than non-allergic asthma. Allergen triggers include pet dander, pests, dust mites, and mold. Environmental tobacco smoke plays a major role in the exacerbation of asthma attacks. Secondhand smoke is associated with many other health issues, such as lung cancer and respiratory diseases.
Many pulmonary disorders are caused by viral and bacterial infections; however, this is not true for asthma. Asthma is a chronic disease of the respiratory system. “Asthma inflames and narrows the airways making it more difficult for the individual to breathe in and out” (Schroeder, 2010). When an asthma patient suffers from asthma, their symptoms include, tightening of the chest, wheezing, coughing and trouble with breathing. The majority of asthma cases are identified during childhood, but a person can suffer from asthma at any age. “Asthma affects approximately 16.4 million adults and 7 million children in the United States” (Schroeder, 2010). Genetics do play a role in the development of asthma. “Approximately 40 percent of children who have asthmatic parents will develop asthma” (Schroeder, 2010). Asthma can be triggered and exacerbated
This paper discusses asthma and the environmental risk factors that can cause or initiate asthma symptoms. Asthma is an airway disease that can arise from a genetic background and common exposures to allergens and airborne irritants. Since major industrialization in Western, European, and Asian countries; there has been a rapid rise in the occurrence of asthma. More adults and children spend the majority of their time indoors. Indoor and outdoor air pollution has had an effect on this increase of asthmatic individuals. Non-allergic environmental risk factors include, occupational asthma due to chemicals and fumes within the work place. It also includes, exercise induced asthma, especially outdoors in high traffic areas. Allergens are a principal factor in causing asthma symptoms to occur. Allergic asthma is much more common than non-allergic asthma. Allergen triggers include pet dander, pests, dust mites, and mold. Environmental tobacco smoke plays a major role in the exacerbation of asthma attacks. Secondhand smoke is associated with many other health issues, such as lung cancer and respiratory diseases.
Many pulmonary disorders are caused by viral and bacterial infections; however, this is not true for asthma. Asthma is a chronic disease of the respiratory system. “Asthma inflames and narrows the airways making it more difficult for the individual to breathe in and out” (Schroeder, 2010). When an asthma patient suffers from asthma, their symptoms include, tightening of the chest, wheezing, coughing and trouble with breathing. The majority of asthma cases are identified during childhood, but a person can suffer from asthma at any age. “Asthma affects approximately 16.4 million adults and 7 million children in the United States” (Schroeder, 2010). Genetics do play a role in the development of asthma. “Approximately 40 percent of children who have asthmatic parents will develop asthma” (Schroeder, 2010). Asthma can be triggered and exacerbated
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