When or how does asthma occur

This can happen if you develop an allergy to something at work such as mold or if you are exposed to irritants such as wood dust or chemicals at work over and over at lower levels or all at once at higher levels.

It can be hard to tell if someone has asthma, especially in children under age 5. Having a doctor check how well your lungs work and check for allergies can help you find out if you have asthma. During a checkup, a doctor will ask if you cough a lot, especially at night. He or she will also ask whether your breathing problems are worse after physical activity or at certain times of year. The doctor will then ask about chest tightness, wheezing, and colds lasting more than 10 days.

He or she will ask whether anyone in your family has or has had asthma, allergies, or other breathing problems. Finally, the doctor will ask questions about your home and whether you have missed school or work or have trouble doing certain things. The doctor may also do a breathing test, called spirometry, to find out how well your lungs are working by testing how much air you can breathe out after taking a very deep breath before and after you use asthma medicine.

An asthma attack may include coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, and trouble breathing. As the air moves through your lungs, the airways become smaller, like the branches of a tree are smaller than the tree trunk. During an asthma attack, the sides of the airways in your lungs swell and the airways shrink. Less air gets in and out of your lungs, and mucous that your body makes clogs up the airways. When you control your asthma:. Know your triggers and learn how to avoid them.

Some of the most common triggers are tobacco smoke, dust mites, outdoor air pollution, cockroach allergen, pets, mold, smoke from burning wood or grass, and infections like flu. Asthma is a disease that affects the airways of your lungs. With asthma, your airways' lining tends to always be in a hypersensitive state characterized by redness and swelling inflammation. It's similar to how your skin becomes red, irritated and sensitive after a sunburn. This hypersensitive state makes the airways react to things that you are exposed to every day, or asthma "triggers.

Learn more about how the air we breathe plays a role in our health. When you experience a trigger, the insides of your airways swell even more. This narrows the space for air to move in and out of the lungs. The muscles that wrap around your airways also can tighten, making breathing even harder.

When that happens, it's called an asthma flare-up, asthma episode or asthma "attack. After an asthma flare-up, you probably will feel tired. You're also at greater risk of having another flare-up for several days after an episode.

For the days following a flare-up, be sure to:. For example, cold air in the winter or pollen in the spring or summer may trigger symptoms of seasonal asthma. People with seasonal asthma still have the condition for the rest of the year, but they usually do not experience symptoms. Asthma does not always stem from an allergy, however. Learn more about the difference between allergic and nonallergic asthma here.

Health professionals do not know exactly what causes asthma, but genetic and environmental factors both seem to play significant roles.

Some factors, such as sensitization to an allergen, may be both causes and triggers. The sections below list some others. According to one study , smoking during pregnancy appears to increase the risk of the fetus developing asthma later in life. Some women also experience an aggravation of asthma symptoms while pregnant. One article from suggested that there seem to be higher levels of asthma in people with obesity than those without it.

The authors note that, in one study, children with obesity who lost weight also saw improvements in their asthma symptoms. There is now a growing body of evidence suggesting that both conditions involve a chronic inflammatory response, and this could explain the link.

Once the sensitization has taken place, the person will be susceptible to an allergic reaction each time they come into contact with the substance. Not every person with asthma has an allergy, but there is often a link. In people with allergic disease, exposure to specific allergens can trigger symptoms.

Learn more about allergic asthma here. Cigarette smoking can trigger asthma symptoms, according to the American Lung Association. Asthma, even without smoking, can cause damage to the lungs. This can increase the risk of developing various tobacco-related lung conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and it can make symptoms more severe. Air pollution, both inside the home and outside of it, can affect the development and triggers of asthma. Other triggers in the home and outdoors include :.

Stress can give rise to asthma symptoms, but so can several other emotions. Joy, anger, excitement, laughter, crying, and other emotional reactions can all trigger an asthma attack. Scientists have also found evidence to suggest that asthma may be more likely in people with mental health conditions such as depression.

Others have suggested that long-term stress may lead to epigenetic changes that result in chronic asthma. There is evidence to suggest that asthma runs in families. Recently, scientists have mapped out some of the genetic changes that may play a role in its development. In some cases, epigenetic changes are responsible. These occur when an environmental factor causes a gene to change. Around 5.

For example, during their reproductive years, symptoms may worsen during menstruation, compared with other times of the month. Doctors call this perimenstrual asthma. During menopause , however, asthma symptoms may improve. Some scientists believe that hormonal activity may impact immune activity, resulting in hypersensitivity in the airways. People with intermittent asthma may also have symptoms only some of the time. Learn more about intermittent asthma here.

A doctor will ask the person about their symptoms, their family medical history, and their personal medical history. They will also carry out a physical examination, and they may conduct some other tests. When the doctor makes their diagnosis, they will also note whether the asthma is mild, intermittent, moderate, or severe. They will also try to identify the type.

People can keep a log of their symptoms and possible triggers to help the doctor make an accurate diagnosis. This should include information about potential irritants in the workplace. The doctor will focus on the upper respiratory tract, the chest, and the skin.