Causes and Triggering Factors of Asthma
By Dr. N. Jawahar
The cause of asthma is still not fully understood but studies showed there might be combination of hereditary and environmental factors. In some case asthma run in families and any family member can inherit the susceptibility to asthma.
Certain factors are known to trigger asthma. They are
Allergy: Many allergens are known to trigger asthma. Most important are dust mite, pollens and animal fur. The most common allergy worldwide is fecal droppings of house dust mite which normally lives in carpets, soft toys and fabrics.
Industrial and atmospheric pollutants; Industrial chemicals, chemical fumes from solvents and paints, smoke, others like grain, flour can trigger asthma. Incidence of asthma is more in polluted urban areas and industrialized cities. Occupational asthma due to work place pollutants may affect up to 20% of the people working in these environment.
Smoking: Active smoking not only triggers recurrent asthma attacks but also could block the benefit of asthma drugs. Also smokers tend to suffer persistence of symptoms compared to others. Passive smoking can also make asthma worse. Even smoke deposits in clothes, hairs and beds could trigger asthma in children. There is a higher incidence of asthma in children born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy.
Drugs: Aspirin is a commonly used drug for various reasons. It can be used either to treat pain (headache or body ache) or given to those patients who has angina or any past history of heart attack or stroke to thin the blood. Aspirin is known to trigger asthma. In one study, it has been estimated aspirin could trigger symptoms in at least one in fifty people with asthma.
Non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs: Drug like Brufen, Ibuprofen, Diclofen etc are very useful to control inflammation in human body. They are commonly used in acute injuries and swelling in any part of body. Unfortunately they have an opposite effect in patients with asthma. Instead of reducing inflammation, they in fact provoke an asthma attack.
Beta blockers: These types of drugs are useful in reducing the blood pressure and to reduce the heart rate. They are used in certain heart conditions to reduce the heart rate (Angina, heart attack, heart failure) and also in Anxiety and condition called hyperthyroidism (excessive secretion of thyroid hormones). Drugs coming under this class are atenolol, timolol and propranolol. Sometimes beta blockers will be used in eye condition called Glaucoma to reduce the pressure inside the eye. Various studies confirmed that beta blockers could trigger an asthma attack.
Infection: Infections are caused by some bugs like bacteria, virus, fungi and parasites. They can also trigger an asthma attack. Particularly viral infections like common cold and flu could worsen the asthma.
Weather: Sudden gush of cold air (A/C) could also trigger asthma. Winter months are notorious in bringing asthma attack due to combination of cold air and infections.
Emotion: Emotional factors such as anxiety, depression could also precipitate asthma attacks.
Food: Even though it is very rare, some studies showed possible precipitation of asthma due to chemicals like sulphite and tartarazine in foods. Sulphite is found to be in pre cooked or processed meals, shrimp and drinks like bear and wine. Tartarazine is a colouring agent used in many food preservatives.
This article is part 2 of "Walking with a Doc Series - Asthma."
Dr. N. Jawahar is a Doctor with more than 20 years experience at various specialties of Medicine. He is at present working as a Primary care consultant. His main hobbies are walking and writing articles and leaflets. He also writes articles for Pan American shopping and e street shopping.
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