Asthma is a chronic lung disease that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways. It often causes repeated periods of breathlessness and wheezing, tightening of the chest, and coughing. It affects around 25 million people in the USA and the figure is increasing each year. About 7 million of these are children. Dr. Leon, Dr. Shakouri, and Dr. Seth are doctors at Texas Regional Asthma and Allergy Center in Southlake and Fort Worth. They specialize in the treatment of asthma.
Causes of Asthma
Although the exact cause of asthma is not known, many doctors believe that it is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors including:
- a hereditary tendency to develop allergies
- parents who suffer from asthma
- respiratory infections during early childhood
- exposure to viral infections or airborne allergens during infancy
Who is at Risk of Asthma
Asthma affects people of all ages, though is most often begins in childhood. Young children who suffer from recurring respiratory infections are at the highest risk of developing asthma. Children with allergies or eczema are also at a higher risk than children without these conditions.
Common Asthma Triggers
Asthma triggers are substances, environmental conditions, or activities that can induce or worsen an asthma attack. Asthma triggers are common and avoiding them can be tricky. But with a little careful planning, you can reduce exposure to your triggers and prevent asthma flare-ups. Common asthma triggers include:
- air pollution
- dust mites
- cigarette smoke
- pets
- mold
- foods
- pollen
- cockroaches
- cleaning products
- stress
If you think you may be suffering from asthma, talk to a specialist about taking an allergy test so that you can find out which allergens trigger your asthma attacks. Although there is no cure for asthma, it can be controlled, particularly when you learn which triggers to avoid. If you would like to find out more about treatments for your asthma, you can reach the team of doctors at Texas Regional Asthma and Allergy Center at the Southlake office at (817) 421-0770 and the Fort Worth/Keller office at (817) 421-0770.