A number of different asthma risk factors may increase your chances of developing an asthma attack. Some of the asthma risk factors are avoidable -- such as exposure to smoking and eating certain foods -- while others are not avoidable or modifiable, like family history. Finally, there are also a handful of protective asthma risk factors that decrease your risk of asthma.
Asthma attacks -- or any any acute change in asthma symptoms that interrupt a person's normal routine and require either extra medication or some other intervention to breathe normally again -- are more common among:
- Children 5 years of age and younger
- Adults in their 30s
- Adults over the age of 65
Additional asthma risk factors in both adults and children include:
- A family history of asthma
- A personal history of atopy
- A personal history of allergies
- Exposure to second-hand smoke
- Urban living, especially if there is significant air pollution
- Low levels of vitamin D
- Obesity
- Low birth weight
- Being born in the winter months
- Workplace exposures to chemicals or other substances that may lead to occupational asthma
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Sinusitis
- Antibiotic use in the first year of life
- Eating a lot of fast food
- Regular acetaminophen use
While there is nothing you can do about your age or family history, it is important to keep these above things in mind, along with maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding cigarette smoke.
On the other hand, the following things can actually reduce your risk of developing an asthma attack:
- Breastfeeding (lowers your baby's risk of developing asthma)
- Attendance at daycare
- Large family size
- Increased intake of fruits and vegetables
- Community resources such as economic development opportunities
- Eating omega-3 fatty acids found in fish
Sources:
Up To Date. Accessed June 5, 2009. Risk Factors For Asthma
Haby, M M; Peat, J K; Marks, G B; Woolcock, A J; Leeder, S R. Thorax. 56(8):589-595, August 1, 2001.
American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. Accessed June 5, 2009. Risk Factors for Asthma, Atopy, Environment, Family History
