Asthma
Asthma Risk Factors
What are the risk factors associated with asthma?
While the true cause of asthma is unknown and it is not clear why some people get asthma and others don’t; it is clear that both genetics and environmental factors play a role. Evidence shows that the following factors may increase your chances of developing asthma:
- Family history of asthma
- Being overweight
- Frequent viral infections in childhood, particularly respiratory infections
- Exposure to secondhand smoke
- Living in a polluted, urban area
- Born with low birth weight
- Childhood exposure and sensitization to a variety of allergens may contribute to developing asthma, although the exact correlation is unclear.
