- Asthma is a condition that affects the airways – the small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs.
- Asthma is a common disease.In Hong Kong, it is estimated that around 10% of children and 5% of adults have experienced symptoms of asthma.
- Asthma is not infectious. It is found to be more related to genetic factors and the environment.
- When a person with asthma comes into contact with something that irritates their airways (an asthma trigger),
the muscles around the walls of the airways tighten so that the airways become narrower and the lining of the airways becomes inflamed and starts to swell.Sometimes, sticky mucus or phlegm builds up, which can further narrow the airways. - These reactions cause the airways to become narrower and irritated – making it difficult to breath and leading to symptoms of asthma.
What we do know is that you’re more likely to develop asthma if you have a family history of asthma, eczema or allergies.
It’s likely that this family history, combined with certain environmental factors, influences whether or not someone develops asthma.
What we do know is that you’re more likely to develop asthma if you have a family history of asthma, eczema or allergies.
It’s likely that this family history, combined with certain environmental factors, influences whether or not someone develops asthma.
Environmental pollution can make asthma symptoms worse and may play a part in causing some asthma. Research has shown that smoking during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of a child developing asthma. Similarly, children whose parents smoke are more likely to develop asthma.
Adult onset asthma may develop after a viral infection, and irritants found in the workplace may lead to a person developing asthma (known as occupational asthma).
There may not be complete cure for asthma but with proper care, and by following a doctor’s prescription,
patients can manage the disease and lead a normal life, just as many Olympic medalists who are asthmatics did.