Top 6 asthma risk factors

  Some Asthma Risk Factors

14 million adults and 6 million children in the US alone suffer from asthma. Wondering if asthma might be in your future or your child’s future?

Risk factors are certain personal traits or events that increase the likelihood that you will experience a specific disease or a condition associated with a disease. Look at this list of top asthma risk factors to decide if you or your child may develop asthma at some point in the future. If your risk is high, take steps to avoid the factors you can.

1) Family History of Asthma

Having a parent or sibling with asthma means you have a high risk of developing asthma yourself.

2) Living in Urban Areas

People who live in urban areas are exposed to air pollution on a daily basis and are more likely to develop asthma. There are also more cockroaches in urban areas. Cockroach sensitivity is a common trigger for asthma.

3) Exposure to Secondhand Smoke

People who live with someone who smokes or have frequent, prolonged exposure to secondhand smoke (such as in a work setting) are at a much higher risk for developing asthma. So, parents should never smoke around their children or even in the same house. Even better, they should quit!

4) Low Birth Weight

Children who were smaller than the norm at birth, such as those born early, are also at higher risk for asthma.

5) Other Health Problems

Adults who also have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), are obese, and / or have chronic sinusitis carry a higher than usual risk for being diagnosed with asthma.

6) Exposure to Irritants on the Job

If you are exposed to certain chemicals or other irritating substances on a regular basis at work, you could be at risk for developing occupational asthma. Risky occupations may include farming, hairdressing, and paint, steel, plastics, and electronics manufacturing.

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