Asthma is described as a chronic respiratory condition that involves the airways. This condition causes the airways to inflame and generate substantial amounts of mucus once an individual is exposed to certain environmental factors. The signs and symptoms of asthma include wheezing, coughing and difficulty breathing.
Take note that there are certain risk factors that increases the risk for developing the condition. Some of the risk factors such as obesity and smoking can be changed but some could not be modified and will always increase the risk for certain individuals to develop the disease.
Gender
The gender of an individual is a vital factor in determining the risk for asthma. Among children, asthma is more likely to occur among males, but after puberty, women are mostly affected by the condition. In addition, women face a higher risk to develop the severe symptoms of asthma as adults.
The hormonal changes present during the menstrual cycle have been linked to an increased incidence among women. In some women, they initially develop asthma either before or during pregnancy or menopause.
Ethnicity
The ethnic heritage of an individual has been connected to the risk for developing asthma. Back in the 1980s, children with African-American descent have evidently higher rates of asthma than Caucasian children.
Individuals who have Hispanic background are also at high risk for developing asthma. Those who are at high risk for severe and possibly fatal asthma attacks include children with Hispanic or African-American lineage.
Birth problems and early life
The circumstances surrounding the birth and early life of the individual might play a part in determining the risk for developing the condition. Individuals who have a low birth weight or born during the winter season face a higher risk for asthma. In case there are any complications during birth or the pregnancy, the newborn child faces a higher risk for developing childhood asthma. In case a mother does not take in adequate amounts of vitamin D during pregnancy, the child might develop asthma.
Family history of asthma
One of the risk factors is a family history of the condition. There are several families that have multiple generations of relatives that are affected by the condition. Individuals who have blood relatives that have asthma face a higher risk for developing the condition at some point in their lives.
The reason why asthma frequently occurs in certain families is due to the family genetics. There are certain genes that have been noted to cause certain diseases including asthma. Since these genes are passed down from one generation to the next, the descendants of the original asthmatic individual will also end up with the disease.
These non-modifiable factors can be used to determine if an individual might develop asthma. Luckily, with the help of various treatment options, asthma can be properly managed.