But what are the causes behind asthma?  Why do some people develop asthma while others don't?  Why has asthma proven to be more common in the Western world than other parts of the world?

You likely already know that asthma is not contagious.  You cannot catch it from another person. However, you might not know that you can inherit the asthma tendency from your parents.

For example, studies have demonstrated that children whose parents smoke are twice as likely to develop asthma as children of non-smoking parents.  In addition, children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy tend to be born with smaller airways, which greatly increases their chances of developing the disease.

Many people believe there's a direct relationship between air pollution and asthma.  However, you might be surprised to learn that there is very little evidence of such a relationship in current research.

There is clear evidence that the Western lifestyle found in developed countries can actually increase the odds of a person developing asthma. This evidence has not been refined to the point where we clearly understand which specific factors within the Western environment are the most likely contributors. Though, suprisingly, it's been speculated that this is due to a cleaner environment.

Here's the thought process ... studies have already shown a direct relationship between allergies and asthma. Allergies to house-dust mites, cats, dogs, and molds all serve as underlying asthma triggers.  Protection from these allergies is developed during childhood, when infections and exposure to the bacteria within a dirty environment create a resistance within the body. In the West, where there tends to be more wealth and the environment is often cleaner, a child's body misses out on the opportunity to build up this resistance.

Almost all asthma in young people is attributable to allergies.  If you have asthma, most likely you inherited the genes which made your asthma possible. But in addition, you were also likely exposed to an environment where allergy-producing influences such house-dust mites, cats, or dogs were present.  If either your asthma genes or your allergies were not in the equation, then your asthma would not have developed. Each factor is essential.

But what about colds, exercise, laughter, or tobacco smoke?

All of these can result in asthma attacks.  But these are not the causes of your asthma. Instead, they're considered triggers. Avoiding exercise or tobacco smoke, never laughing or always protecting yourself against colds will not cure your asthma, though they may help to dramatically reduce the number and intensity of your asthma attacks.

Finally, what about paint?

We know that the type of paint used on the interior of your home can aggravate your asthma. Glossy oil paints in particular can bring about an asthma attack, while emulsion paints seem to have little or no affect. Polyurethane paints, usually recognizable because they come in two packs which need to be mixed together before use, can cause occupational asthma in people who use them regularly.  However, they probably cause little risk to those who use them infrequently.  As always, when using chemicals and paints, it's wise to ventilate the area well during and after use.

At A Glance

• Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that makes airways (bronchial tubes) particularly sensitive to irritants, and this is characterized by difficulty in breathing.
• When talking about diseases, it is important to distinguish between causes and triggers.
• A cause is something without which an effect (such as asthma) will not happen.  That is, a cause is something without which you would not be asthmatic.
• Common causes of asthma include a family history of asthma, exposure to certain infections when young, and allergies.