Understanding what causes asthma can help you better manage its causes and triggers.
Whether you, your child or another loved one has asthma, you can feel more in control by knowing your options for reducing asthma symptoms and managing its underlying causes.
What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic condition that causes swelling and inflammation in the airway tissues. This leads to a narrowing of your airways, making it more difficult to breathe, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).
About 1 in 13 people in the United States have asthma. It affects people who are seniors, low-income, Hispanic, Black and Native Americans more than other groups, and can start either in childhood or adulthood.
The symptoms of asthma include wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and chest tightening. Different people have different triggers for these symptoms.
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What are the causes of asthma?
Figuring out what causes asthma can be tricky because there are several reasons why it develops.
According to the American Lung Association (ALA) and the AAFA, the main causes of asthma include:
- Allergies
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Air pollution
- Health conditions
- Family history of asthma
Here, you can learn about each cause, plus some ways to manage them so that asthma isn’t triggered as easily.
Allergies
Certain substances can cause you to develop allergic asthma. The AAFA says the most common include: