Is Genetics One of the Causes of Asthma?

Question: Is Genetics One of the Causes of Asthma?

Answer: Yes and no. Studies show that more than half of childhood asthma cases are related to inheritance (meaning that often a parent or family member had or has asthma, too). However, a whole host of other risk factors increase asthma risk, too. Genetics certainly explains some, but not all cases of asthma. More than than likely whether or not you develop asthma depends on a combination of risk factors related to:

• Genetics
• Environment, such as air pollution exposure
• Immunology, and your unique immune system

Family History & Asthma

Genetics can be very complicated and difficult to understand. However, you can think of this very simply by asking a single question: Does a family history of asthma increase my risk of developing asthma? Let's take a look....

Having one parent with asthma increases a child's risk of developing asthma three-fold, while both parents having asthma increases a child's risk by six times. Similarly, a family history of asthma among adults in the family also has been shown to increase risk of developing asthma.

So, genetics play a significant role in the development of asthma, but is not the only risk factor you need to consider.

_Sources:

_{Bracken MB, Belanger K, Cookson WO et. al. Genetic and Perinatal Risk Factors for Asthma Onset and Severity: A Review and Theoretical Analysis Epidemiol Rev 2002 24: 176-189.}

_{Duffy DL, Martin NG, Battistutta D, Hopper JL, Mathews JD. Genetics of asthma and hay fever in Australian twins. Am Rev Respir Dis 1990;142:1351-8.}

_{Litonjua AA, Carey VJ, HA Burge, Weiss ST, Gold DJ. Parental History and the Risk for Childhood Asthma Does Mother Confer More Risk than Father?}Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., Volume 158, Number 1, July 1998, 176-181