Written by Jenny Catton
Recent research suggests that twice as many people have asthma now than they did 25 years ago. Scientists aren’t sure what has caused this dramatic increase but many people think that environmental factors could be playing a part.
What is asthma?
Asthma is an inflammatory disease that affects the airways. Sufferers commonly experience symptoms including wheezing, coughing, a tight feeling in the chest and shortness of breath.
Asthma can affect people of all ages. In the UK, more than 5.2 million people, including 1.1 million children, are being treated for asthma. In the USA, over 20 million people are thought to have asthma.
Are environmental factors to blame?
Many things have been blamed for causing asthma from eating too much processed food to a lack of breast feeding. But more commonly, it’s environmental factors – particularly those that affect air quality that are linked to asthma.
Traffic fumes
The charity Asthma UK has found that two thirds of people with asthma have reported that traffic fumes make their symptoms worse. In other studies, the number of instances of asthma has been found to be greater in people that live close to roads with high volumes of traffic – particularly those where buses and lorries fuelled by diesel regularly travel. Some studies have also suggested that traffic fumes could be linked to adult-on set asthma.
Modern homes
It’s not just pollutants on our roads that can trigger asthma. The air quality within our homes could also be causing an increase in the number of cases of asthma. In the past we didn’t have central heating or air conditioning to keep our homes artificially heated and some experts believe that the changes in our homes – particularly a lack of fresh air could be a factor.
Exposure to chemicals
Some scientists believe that exposure to chemicals could be to blame for an increase in asthma. This can include chemicals within household cleaning products or outdoor chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides. In fact, studies have shown that babies who were exposed to chemicals in the womb or shortly after birth may be more sensitive to allergens and more at risk of developing asthma.
Cigarette smoke
Of course everyone is now aware of the health problems that cigarette smoke can cause and adults suffering from asthma would be wise not to smoke. But second-hand smoke can be a danger too, particularly for children. Children who grow up in a smoking household have been found to need more emergency treatment for asthma than those in a smoke-free home.
Protect your family
If you think you or a family member may have asthma, it’s important that you talk to your doctor. They will be able to give you a plan and if necessary, medication, to help you manage your asthma. For many people, asthma is just an uncomfortable condition but for some sufferers it can be much more serious and in extreme cases can even cause death.
For more advice about asthma, visit: www.asthma.org.uk
