How does a person get asthma?

There is a genetic link to asthma, but the exact means is not known. A family history for asthma or any linked conditions (eczema, hayfever, etc.) increases the risk of having asthma. Contact with allergens early in life in children at risk for asthma may increase their chance of having asthma. A virus (cold) in young children may also be a factor in having asthma. Asthma can develop at any age but is more common in children.

What are the triggers of asthma?

Triggers for asthma are different for every person. The most common triggers of asthma are in the air and they can be divided into two categories: inflammatory triggers and symptom triggers. Common inflammatory triggers include pets, house dust mites, pollens and molds. Common symptom triggers are cigarette smoke, paint fumes, strong odours, and air pollution and cold air.

Food allergies can cause asthma symptoms: however, they are not a common trigger of asthma. Severe reactions to food can cause anaphylaxis ( very severe allergic reaction). Foods that cause anaphylaxis include peanuts, shellfish, eggs and milk products.

What can a person do to avoid triggers?

It is key to find a person's asthma triggers. Triggers can vary from person to person. The home, especially the bedroom, should be the focus. Staying away from triggers may be helpful. An example of this is to avoid going outside when the pollen counts are high, if pollen is a trigger.

If someone has asthma, should they exercise?

Exercise is good for everyone, because exercise makes the heart, lungs and muscles stronger. People with asthma should exercise too. It is important to have a good warm-up and cool down before and after you exercise. If someone has symptoms with exercise, they should talk to their physician about taking medicine before exercise.

What are signs that asthma is worsening?

1. More symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath, tightening of the chest and/or wheezing

2. Waking up at night with symptoms

3. Needing reliever medicine for consistency first thing in the morning

4. Being unable to work at the same level of activity as before

5. Needing reliever medicine more than 3 times/week to treat symptoms

6. Peak flow measurements that are lower by more than 20% over days

Can asthma be cured?

There is no cure for asthma. However, in most cases, asthma can be controlled. In cases where things in the air at work are causing problems with asthma, changing what's in the air can help to prevent asthma symptoms.

Will children outgrow asthma?

About 1/3 to 1/2 of children "appear to outgrow" their asthma by puberty. However in some of the children symptoms reappear in adult life. Up to 2/3 of children will continue to have symptoms through puberty and adulthood. More children with moderate or severe asthma probably continue to have some degree of airway sensitivity and are at risk for the long-term effects of asthma throughout life.

Will inhaled steroids stunt children's growth?

Studies have shown that low doses of inhaled steroids do not appear to affect the normal growth in children. One study followed the growth of children using inhaled steroids through to adulthood found that they did attain their expected adult height. Low doses of inhaled steroids do not appear to be related to major body effects.

Poorly controlled asthma can result in poor weight gain and height growth in children. The risk of poorly controlled asthma can be worse than the side effects from the use of inhaled steroids.

The lowest dose of inhaled steroids required to maintain good asthma control should be used. Careful monitoring of growth is an important factor with the use of steroids.

Will asthma medicine cause side effects with the other medicines?

People with asthma should always tell their doctor about any other medicines currently being used including over-the-counter, prescription or from an alternative care practitioner. The physician can then speak about any likely medicine problems.

What is an allergy?

An allergy is when a person reacts to something that is harmless to most other people. A person who has an allergy, reacts to a certain protein, or allergen. When a person comes in contact with an allergen, the body produces a number of reactions. These reactions produce individual signs and symptoms. Allergens can enter the body by being inhaled, injected, swallowed or touched. Treatment of allergies includes avoiding the specific allergen, medicine specific to the symptoms and in a few cases immunotherapy.

What is immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy or allergy shots are made up of repeated shots of small doses of the allergen that the person reacts to. The purpose of immunotherapy is to create a tolerance to the allergen. Immunotherapy can be useful in building up a tolerance to some allergens.

However, immunotherapy has no, or a very small role in the treatment of asthma. Good anti-inflammatory medicines, if used, as they should be, along with allergen avoidance measures can control almost all asthma. Immunotherapy is sometimes used in the treatment of hayfever and insect venom allergy.