How to Identify the Risk Factors for Asthma

The risk factors for asthma are quite varied. Although there is a genetic aspect to the condition, environmental issues can also play a role. For example, exposure to urban pollutants or secondhand smoke has been shown to have an effect. Additionally, with more than half of all asthma cases diagnosed in children ages 2 through 17, childhood respiratory infections are as culpable as hereditary risk factors.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Learn to Identify Signs and Symptoms of Risk

1. Identify people in your family who have asthma. It tends to run in families. As such, if you have close blood relatives with asthma (such your parents), you are more likely to get it.
2. Monitor environmental risk factors for asthma. If asthma does not run in your family, the environment may play a larger role than heredity. Risk factors include living in urban areas (because of high air pollution), living around pets and exposure to chemicals at work (such as in farming, plastic manufacturing or in beauty salons). Even if nobody in your family has asthma, you could develop it if you are exposed to these risk factors.
3. Avoid allergens if you have allergies. Sometimes these allergens are the cause of asthma attacks: pollen, dust and dust mites, mold, air pollution, animal dander, certain foods, aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and cigarette smoke. For example, exposing your child to a pet could lead to him to develop an allergy to its dander. Simple steps, such as washing your bedding in hot water every week will reduce the amount of dust mites in your room that could also increase your child's asthma risk.
4. Identify the risk of certain medical conditions and how they affect asthma. Congestive heart failure, low birth weight, obesity, GERD, pulmonary embolism and respiratory infections in childhood can raise your risk for developing asthma at some point during your life.
5. Understand that exposure to these risk factors does not mean you will develop asthma. It simply means that your risk of developing it is higher than for people without the risk factors.

Tips & Warnings

• If you already have asthma, some of these risk factors could become triggers for asthma attacks. For example, if you live in an urban area, a day with high air pollution might cause you to have an attack. Learn your triggers so you can help prevent potential asthma attacks.