Asthma is a common disease state that plagues many Americans, especially children. While the condition is extremely common, it is not fully understood by many people or by the scientific community. What is this condition that affects so many Americans, and where does it come from? Asthma is a condition of the lungs that causes difficulty in breathing when a stressor triggers a response, called an asthma attack. The root cause of asthma is not fully understood, but there are a few hypotheses that attempt to explain its origins and why it is so common. Asthma changes the way many people live, but research has yet to come up with a cure for this common condition.
Asthma is a condition which may not affect the lungs constantly. It is a response to irritants, in which breathing becomes difficult to impossible. When triggered, what was a normal airway becomes tight, restricted by the contracting muscles around the airway. This makes a previously open area significantly smaller, allowing for less air volume to pass through. In addition to the muscle tightness, mucus is produced in the airways in response to stressors. This takes up even more room in the already constricted airways, allowing for even less air to pass. This can be caused by a multitude of things, varying from allergies to strenuous exercise. Asthma varies in intensity and triggers based on the individual suffering with the condition.
During an asthma attack, individuals will feel shortness of breath at the very least. This can be paired with a slew of other symptoms, such as wheezing, coughing, or even chest pain. Asthma can happen in a range of severity, but is best when treated right away in each case. Albuterol inhalers are often used as rescue inhalers in the event of an attack. Other medication in the forms of pills or inhalers are also often times used as a preventative medication. There are many forms of treatment, and each individual can be better served by differing combinations of treatment. Asthma patients often times build a relationship with a specialist to improve their condition to its greatest extent.
The cause of asthma is unknown, although it is extremely common. There are a few hypotheses that attempt to explain where asthma comes from and why it is so common. Asthma is thought to be genetic in a lot of cases. This means that asthma can be an inherited trait from an individual’s parents. Asthma is also thought to be caused in the same way allergies are inherited. Allergies are suggested to occur genetically by a person’s inherited susceptibility to develop allergies. This does not guarantee allergies will develop, but it increases the likelihood of that taking place. Asthma, is thought of in the same way. It is not guaranteed that individuals will develop asthma, but they may have a greater chance of that happening if they inherited a susceptibility to asthma from their parents. The other cause of asthma is said to be infection and exposure to irritants as a child. If a child is exposed to substances such as allergies or airborne irritants, they may have a greater chance of developing asthma. This is also true for children who suffer from respiratory infection at a young age. The direct cause of asthma is still unknown, but research is fueling forward relentlessly.
Another question that is being research is why asthma has been co common recently. At the forefront of this question is the Hygiene Hypothesis. This hypothesis suggests that with the advancement of medication and hygiene, susceptibility has increased due to the immune system being less equipped. The thought is that without the body being exposed to infection all the time, the immune system is weaker, because it does not have the ability to build up resistance. As a result of this, more long term conditions have risen in incidence rate. This hypothesis has not been definitively proven, but evidence suggests that cleaner environments increase susceptibility to infection.
Asthma is a common condition that affects many people across the world. Despite its common nature, the condition has yet to be fully understood. Though evidence suggests genetics and increased hygiene have a part to play in the cause of asthma, further research needs to be done to confirm the hypothesis. Many people suffer from asthma attacks, and must use many medications to try and live a normal life. With further study and discovery, we are headed towards better health and maybe even a cure.
References
- Greenwood, Why are asthma rates soaring? (2011).
- National Heart, B. Institute, Asthma.
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