Asthma drugs may be causing big problems in babies

Some asthma sufferers actually rarely experience any symptoms at all, while others have their lives almost controlled by their constant symptoms that require nearly constant supervision and attention.

In addition, those with asthma also must deal with other complications and health conditions because of asthma. This includes gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD), rhinosinusitis, and also obstructive sleep apnea. Then there are psychological disorders that often crop up, such as anxiety disorders — found in between 16 and 52 percent of patients, and other mood disorders, which range in frequency from 14 to 41 percent. Scientists aren’t sure if it’s the asthma that causes the psychological problems, or if the psychological problems result in the asthma.

There are many potential causes of asthma, and the medical community has had some difficulty in isolating which are most to blame. Environmental factors are often pinpointed as a possible reason, particularly allergens and pollution that may inflame the airways. Environmental chemicals could also potentially cause problems. Or, smoking during pregnancy and after delivery could raise one’s risk of coming down with asthma.

Areas with high amounts of traffic pollution and ozone levels, leading to low air quality, are commonly held up as possible factors in asthma prevalence.

Then, there’s the use of acetaminophen, which is a bit more controversial. Most evidence doesn’t seem to support that this common painkiller is a cause although it has been theorized.

Exposure to indoor allergens like cockroaches, animal dander, or even mold has been associated with asthma. Some suspect that poor hygiene could also result in a higher incidence of asthma due to the spread of bacteria and viruses, especially during childhood.

But one should not downplay the role of genetics as a risk factor for asthma. Studies have found that in identical twins, when one has asthma, the other has a risk factor of 25 percent of also having it. Scientists have been able to pinpoint numerous genes that appear to be linked to asthma.

Medical conditions can also result in asthma. Atopic disease is the strongest risk factor for developing asthma. Atopic syndrome is a predisposition to developing hypersensitivity to allergens and having allergic reactions.