Showing posts with label Causes. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Most Common Diseases of Age 50+: Asthma (Respiratory Disease) - The Causes

Respiratory Disease is defined as medical conditions which affect the breathing organ and tissues including Inflammatory lung disease, Obstructive lung diseases,Â Restrictive lung diseases, Respiratory tract infections, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, the nerves andÂ muscles breathing , etc,.
I. AsthmaÂ
Â Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the air way of the lung with recurring symptoms, such as wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing. The disease affects people of all ages, and mostly starts during childhood. In the study of 463,801 children aged 13-14 years in 155 collaborating centres in 56 countries. Children self-reported, through one-page questionnaires, symptoms of these three atopic disorders. In 99 centres in 42 countries, a video asthma questionnaire was also used for 304,796 children, found that for asthma symptoms, the highest 12-month prevalences were from centres in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Republic of Ireland, followed by most centres in North, Central, and South America; the lowest prevalences were from centres in several Eastern European countries, Indonesia, Greece, China, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, India, and Ethiopia(1). In the United States, approximately, asthma affects 25 million people, 7Â million of them are children.

B.1. Causes
1. Smoking and second hand smoke
Smoking is considered as one of major cause of lung diseases, including asthma. According to the study by Texas Tech University Health Science Center, Airway mucosal permeability is increased in smokers, which could lead to increased clearance of inhaled corticosteroids from the airways. Smokers also have decreased histone deacetylase activity, which is necessary for corticosteroids to fully suppress cytokine production, and can lead to corticosteroid resistance. The study also indicated that In asthmatic patients who smoke, disease control is poorer than in asthmatic nonsmokers. Of all forms of SHS, maternal exposure seems to have the largest impact on asthma by increasing the frequency and severity of the disease and decreasing lung function. Asthmatic children exposed to multiple household smokers face an increased risk for respiratory illness-related absences from school, and these effects persist during adolescence but weaken during adulthood(6).

2. Allergies
People who are sufferred from alergies are most likely to develop asthma. The allergic march is a progression of atopic disease from eczema to asthma, and then to allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. It appears to be caused by a regional allergic response with breakdown of the local epithelial barrier that initiates systemic allergic inflammation. Genetic and environmental factors predispose to developing the allergic march, according to the study by Department of Surgery, Cape Cod Hospital, Hyannis(7). Other indicated that Allergen exposure contributes to the risk of asthma exacerbations, but other precipitating factors, such as viruses, can interact and increase the risk. According to the study by hÃ´pitaux universitaires de Strasbourg, deteriorating asthma can be related to increased exposure to allergens, particularly allergens from house dust mite, cockroach, cat, rodent, mold or pollen. Several studies have demonstrated that sensitization to respiratory allergens and allergen exposure increases the risk of exacerbation of asthma. When asthma exacerbations are work-related, occupational allergens may be implicated(8).

3. Occupational and environmental exposures
Occupational and exposure history may increase the risk of respiratory problems. According to a report by Dr, Hoy RF., there is a case of a man, 23 years of age and previously well, presents with 2 months of cough, shortness of breath and weight loss. Occupational and exposure history identifies him as commencing work at a mushroom farm 12 months ago where he is exposed to dust from the mixing of mushroom compost. He is not required to use respiratory protection at work. His cough and chest tightness usually start in the afternoon at work and persist into the evening. Some of the effects of exposures may be immediate, whereas others such as asbestos-related lung disease may not present for many decades. Airborne contaminants may be the primary cause of respiratory disease or can exacerbate pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(9).

4. Obesity
Obesity is defined as a medical condition of excess body fat has accumulated overtime, while overweight is a condition of excess body weight relatively to the height. According to the Body Mass Index(BMI), a BMI between 25 to 29.9 is considered over weight, while a BMI of over 30 is an indication of obesity. According to the statistic, 68% of American population are either overweight or obese. In the study to to examine the relationship between central obesity and asthma outcomes in a group of Iranian asthma patients, researchers showed that there is a significant association of WHR-based central obesity with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) (Î² = -9.04; p-value = .044) and forced vital capacity (FVC) (Î² = -10.52; p-value = .012). Logistic regression analysis showed a significant increased risk of asthma attacks in 3 months with Asian WC-based central obesity [odds ratio (OR) = 6.31, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.16-34.41]; emergency room (ER) visits with NIH WC-based (OR = 5.15, 95% CI: 1.36-19.55) and Asian WC-based (OR = 18.72, 95% CI: 1.92-182.63) central obesity; and hospitalization in 1 year with NIH WC-based (OR = 5.28, 95% CI: 1.28-21.84) and Asian WC-based (OR = 12.39, 95% CI: 1.29-119.53) central obesity(10).
Some study suggested that asthma in the obese patient might be more responsive to leukotriene modifiers, orchestrated by leptin and/or adiponectin derived from adipose tissue, than to inhaled corticosteroids, possibly reflecting differences in the underlying airway inflammation in obese vs. non-obese asthmatics(11).

5. Exercise-Induced Asthma
Vigorous exerciseÂ can cause a narrowing of the airways inÂ Â asthma patient.There is a report ofÂ a 44-year-old man with a history of seasonal allergic rhinitis but no asthma, who reported difficulty breathing when playing tennis andÂ a 45-year-old woman who presented with persistent, generally well-controlled asthma, who was now experiencing bouts of coughing and wheezing during exercise. EIB is a frequently encountered problem among patients presenting to primary care specialists. Affected patients should be made aware of the importance of proactive treatment with a short-acting beta agonist before initiating any exercise(12).

6. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), gastric reflux disease, or acid reflux disease, is defined as a chronic condition of liquid stomach acid refluxing back up from the stomach into the esophagus, causing heartburn. According to the study of “Updated guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease.” by DeVault KR, Castell DO; American College of Gastroenterology, GERD is defined as symptoms or mucosal damage produced by the abnormal reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus. It is considered as one the causes of asthma. There is a report ofÂ an 11-year-old boy who was referred to a pediatric respiratory clinic for asthma that was not responsive to inhaled medications. The child presented with a one-year history of dyspnea on exertion, cough and wheeze. He also complained of chronic dyspepsia. The presence of GI symptoms, in addition to abnormalities on chest radiograph and spirometry, suggested the presence of achalasia(13).

7.Â Sinusitis
Sinusitis is defined as a condition of inflammation of the paranasal sinuses of which can develop headache as a result of exposure to a cold or flu virus, or an allergic reaction to pollen, mold, dust or smoke, etc..Sinusitis affects 37 million people each year. Some researchersÂ suggested that there is a close relationship between allergic rhinitis and asthma, food allergy, and atopic dermatitis. Rhinitis and sinusitis often coexist and are commonly referred to with the term rhinosinusitis. These conditions are also linked in the so-called atopic march, which is the sequential appearance of atopic manifestations starting with atopic dermatitis and later followed by food allergy, allergic rhinitis, and asthma(14).

8.Â Upper Respiratory Infections
upper respiratory viral infections are strongly associated in time with hospital admissions for asthma in children and adults. Rhinoviruses were the major pathogen implicated, and the majority of viral infections and asthma admissions occurred during school attendance, according to the study byÂ the Department of Medical Statistics and Computing, University of Southampton(15).

9. Irregular Mentruation
Irregular menstruation are associated with asthma. In the study of a total of 8588 women (response rate 77%) participated in an 8 year follow up postal questionnaire study of participants of the ECRHS stage I in Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Only non-pregnant women not taking exogenous sex hormones were included in the analyses (n = 6137), showed that Irregular menstruation was associated with asthma (OR 1.54 (95% CI 1.11 to 2.13)), asthma symptoms (OR 1.47 (95% CI 1.16 to 1.86)), hay fever (OR 1.29 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.57)), and asthma preceded by hay fever (OR 1.95 (95% CI 1.30 to 2.96)) among women aged 26-42 years(16).

10. Sulphite additives
Topical, oral or parenteral exposure to sulphites (mainly from the consumption of foods and drinks that contain these additives)Â has been reported to induce a range of adverse clinical effects in sensitive individuals, ranging from dermatitis, urticaria, flushing, hypotension, abdominal pain and diarrhoea to life-threatening anaphylactic and asthmatic reactions(16a).

11. Cold air
Endurance athletes show an increased prevalence of airway hyperresponsiveness. In the study of aÂ total, 64 elite athletes (32 swimmers and 32 cold-air athletes), 32 mild asthmatic subjects and 32 healthy controls underwent allergy skin prick testing, methacholine challenge and induced sputum analysis found that there is aÂ significant airway inflammation only in competitive athletes with airway hyperresponsiveness. However, the majority of elite athletes showed evidence of bronchial epithelial damage that could possibly contribute to the development of airway hyperresponsiveness(17a).

11. Etc.Â

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What is Asthma? What Causes Asthma?

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According to recent estimates, asthma affects 300 million people in the world and more than 22 million in the United States. Although people of all ages suffer from the disease, it most often starts in childhood, currently affecting 6 million children in the US. Asthma kills about 255,000 people worldwide every year.

Children at Risk

Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children – especially children who have low birth weight, are exposed to tobacco smoke, are black, and are raised in a low-income environment. Most children first present symptoms around 5 years of age, generally beginning as frequent episodes of wheezing with respiratory infections. Additional risk factors for children include having allergies, the allergic skin condition eczema, or parents with asthma.

Young boys are more likely to develop asthma than young girls, but this trend reverses during adulthood. Researchers hypothesize that this is due to the smaller size of a young male’s airway compared to a young female’s airway, leading to a higher risk of wheezing after a viral infection.

Allergies

Almost all asthma sufferers have allergies. In fact, over 25% of people who have hay fever (allergic rhinitis) also develop asthma. Allergic reactions triggered by antibodies in the blood often lead to the airway inflammation that is associated with asthma.

Common sources of indoor allergens include animal proteins (mostly cat and dog allergens), dust mites, cockroaches, and fungi. It is possible that the push towards energy-efficient homes has increased exposure to these causes of asthma.

Tobacco Smoke

Tobacco smoke has been linked to a higher risk of asthma as well as a higher risk of death due to asthma, wheezing, and respiratory infections. In addition, children of mothers who smoke – and other people exposed to second-hand smoke – have a higher risk of asthma prevalence. Adolescent smoking has also been associated with increases in asthma risk.

Environmental Factors

Allergic reactions and asthma symptoms are often the result of indoor air pollution from mold or noxious fumes from household cleaners and paints. Other indoor environmental factors associated with asthma include nitrogen oxide from gas stoves. In fact, people who cook with gas are more likely to have symptoms such as wheezing, breathlessness, asthma attacks, and hay fever.

Pollution, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, ozone, cold temperatures, and high humidity have all been shown to trigger asthma in some individuals.

During periods of heavy air pollution, there tend to be increases in asthma symptoms and hospital admissions. Smoggy conditions release the destructive ingredient known as ozone, causing coughing, shortness of breath, and even chest pain. These same conditions emit sulfur dioxide, which also results in asthma attacks by constricting airways.

Weather changes have also been known to stimulate asthma attacks. Cold air can lead to airway congestion, bronchoconstriction (airways constriction), secretions, and decreased mucociliary clearance (another type of airway inefficiency). In some populations, humidity causes breathing difficulties as well.

Obesity

Overweight adults – those with a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 30 – are 38% more likely to have asthma compared to adults who are not overweight. Obese adults – those with a BMI of 30 or greater – have twice the risk of asthma. According to some researchers, the risk may be greater for nonallergic asthma than allergic asthma.

Pregnancy

The way you enter the world seems to impact your susceptibility to asthma. Babies born by Caesarean sections have a 20% increase in asthma prevalence compared to babies born by vaginal birth. It is possible that immune system-modifying infections from bacterial exposure during Cesarean sections are responsible for this difference.

When mothers smoke during pregnancy, their children have lower pulmonary function. This may pose additional asthma risks. Research has also shown that premature birth is a risk factor for developing asthma.

Stress

People who undergo stress have higher asthma rates. Part of this may be explained by increases in asthma-related behaviors such as smoking that are encouraged by stress. However, recent research has suggested that the immune system is modified by stress as well.

Genes

It is possible that some 100 genes are linked to asthma – 25 of which have been associated with separate populations as of 2005.

Genes linked to asthma also play roles in managing the immune system and inflammation. There have not, however, been consistent results from genetic studies across populations – so further investigations are required to figure out the complex interactions that cause asthma.

Mom and Dad may be partially to blame for asthma, since three-fifths of all asthma cases are hereditary. The Centers for Disease Control (USA) say that having a parent with asthma increases a person’s risk by three to six times.

Genetics may also be interacting with environmental factors. For example, exposure to the bacterial product endotoxin and having the genetic trait CD14 (single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) C-159T) have remained a well-replicated example of a gene-environment interaction that is associated with asthma.

Airway Hyperreactivity

Researchers are not sure why airway hyperreactivity is another risk factor for asthma, but allergens or cold air may trigger hyperreactive airways to become inflamed. Some people do not develop asthma from airway hyperreactivity, but hyperreactivity still appears to increase the risk of asthma.

Atopy

Atopy – such as eczema (atopic dermatitis), allergic rhinitis (hay fever), allergic conjunctivitis (an eye condition) – is a general class of allergic hypersensitivity that affects different parts of the body that do not come in contact with allergens. Atopy is a risk factor for developing asthma.

Some 40% to 50% of children with atopic dermatitis also develop asthma, and it is probable that children with atopic dermatitis have more severe and persistent asthma as adults.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

What Causes Asthma?

What Causes Asthma

Scientists and doctors still haven’t precise the exact reason bronchial asthma produces, but it’s thought that genetic makeup, especially a tendency toward allergic reactions, may are likely involved in making a person more likely to have bronchial asthma. In addition, certain ingredients or conditions, known as â€œtriggers,â€ can cause bronchial asthma symptoms to appear in people delicate or subject to them. These activates can include outdoor and indoor air air polluting of the environment, cigarettes, pet pollen, and even cleaning oral sprays.

What Causes Asthma: Family History of Asthma

Although the inherited hyperlinks are not fully comprehended, research indicates that if you have one parent or guardian with bronchial asthma, you are two times more likely to suffer from bronchial asthma than a person whose mom and dad don’t.

While scientists are still trying to understand exactly how body’s genes are likely involved in the actual causes of bronchial asthma, one concept is that people have genetically designed tendencies to oxidative pressure, a destructive chemical response within the body that results from causes in the environment. Oxidative pressure appears to are likely involved in the symptoms of bronchial asthma. It is thought, for example, that foods rich in anti-oxidants, such as fruit and veggies, can help secure the lung area from oxidative pressure, which can then reduce the risk of bronchial asthma.

Bronchial asthma Activates May Be in the Air

Outdoor and indoors air quality has been shown to play important jobs in the progression of bronchial asthma symptoms. Common ecological activates include:

What Causes Asthma

Cigarettes. Research indicates that children created to moms who used during having a baby or who live in a home with a smoking parent or guardian are at considerably increased risk of creating bronchial asthma.

Air air pollution. New research on air toxins and bronchial asthma seems to be consistently. For example, public of inner town kids details to gas heating units and ranges as a source of nitrogen dioxide that raises the risk of bronchial asthma in kids.

Clearing up products. Apply products, such as cup products, watered down lighten, home furniture products, de-greasers, and air fresheners, are all on the list of possible causes for producing bronchial asthma among individuals who use them more than once a week. People cleaning or cleaning work are at even probabilities than those who use spray products at home.

According to a research of more than 3,000 grownups who did not have bronchial asthma when the research started, using clearing up oral sprays more than once a week can lead to asthma suffering problems, and the risk of bronchial asthma enhanced as the use of oral sprays enhanced, scientists revealed in the American Paper of Breathing Critical Care Remedies. The impact appears to be separated to apply products. Use of products in other types did not have the same impact.

â€œWhenever possible, decrease your use of apply items,â€ suggests Kenneth Rosenman, MD, primary of the category of work-related and ecological remedies at The condition of michigan State Higher education, who says he is particularly worried about air fresheners containing disinfectants.

Ingredients. Ingredients are substances that bother your lungs air passage, and they have been attached to bronchial asthma as well. Some common allergens are plant pollen, low herbage, conforms, pet hair, and insects. People who are hypersensitive to plant pollen or lawn might find that their bronchial asthma is worse during the spring and early summer time, whereas insects could lead to bronchial asthma symptoms anytime.

The Record of Asthma: Other Prospective Activates
Other circumstances that physicians have attached to the leading to of bronchial asthma indicators include:

Microbe infections. It is thought that certain lungs infections developed during youth can cause to bronchial asthma in maturity. Also, nasal infections and the common freezing can cause to bronchial asthma problems in people already identified with bronchial asthma.

The signs of heartburn. Some physicians believe that there is a relationship between bronchial asthma and heartburn, because many individuals with bronchial asthma experience from heartburn too. Perhaps surprisingly, it has been discovered that heartburn can be the root cause in difficult-to-treat situations of bronchial asthma. When the heartburn is handled, the indicators of bronchial asthma are pleased.

Extreme clearing up. There is also something known as the “hygiene speculation.” It is the thought that experience bacteria is required to develop up our natureal defenses and secure us from circumstances such as bronchial asthma. This process often does not occur in an extremely fresh environment

signs of asthma