What Causes Asthma?

Asthma is a serious condition that can cause many health problems. Asthma is a sudden attack of shortened breath and labored breathing. This is caused by the tightening of the muscles in the airway and can lead to wheezing, difficulty breathing and dizziness.

Reducing the chance of an asthma attack can make your life more enjoyable. Knowing what causes an asthma attack is the best way to do this. By knowing what to look out for, you can stop the attack before it starts. One of the most common asthma causes is allergies. People that suffer from chronic allergies usually end up getting asthma. Allergies can cause inflammation in the airways due to the immune system fighting off the harmful allergen. The immune system will tighten the muscles to prevent the allergen from entering the body. Allergies can also cause wheezing and shortened breath. If not treated immediately an asthma attack can form. Try using an inhaler or taking an antihistamine to stop the attack from coming on.

Exercise is another common asthma cause. When you exercise, your airways narrow and you are breathing harder. Your lungs are overworking and can sometimes become tired. This can cause your asthma to act up. Heartburn can also cause asthma. When the stomach acid backs up into the throat it can cause the airways to narrow and become inflamed. It can also cause you to have a coughing attack and eventually turn into an asthma attack. This is more common in people that suffer from GERD and also more common at night.

Smoking and asthma are not a good combination. People that have asthma, list smoking as one of the biggest causes of an asthma attack. Tobacco smoke is a harmful allergen and can cause allergy symptoms. Also, inhaling smoke can narrow the airways and cause wheezing. People who smoke have lungs that don’t work at 100%. If an asthma attack starts to form, their lungs are not strong enough to fight it off and it will usually come on full force.