Asthma is a chronic condition that causes your airways to become inflamed leading them to swell and narrow. This makes it harder for you to breathe and can cause dangerous asthma attacks.
Asthma is often linked to other health conditions like hay fever and environmental factors including air pollution. However, research also shows that carrying certain genes can put you at greater risk of developing asthma.
Here's what you need to know about what causes asthma and how it can be passed down through families.
Scientists have identified more than one hundred specific genes that may play a role in whether or not a person develops asthma. In fact, a person with at least one biological parent with asthma is 3 to 6 times more likely to develop the condition than someone whose parents don't have asthma.
However, even if you are born with asthma-related genes, you may not develop asthma unless those genes are "turned on," likely by something in your environment. "Multiple genes may be involved and they could be triggered by a number of factors, such as viral infections," says Stanley Szefler, MD, the Director of the Pediatric Asthma Research Program at Children's Hospital Colorado.
This means that if you have asthma-related genes and suffer a bad respiratory infection as a child, this could kickstart a lifelong asthma condition. However, experts say that more research is needed to fully understand how these genes interact with the environment to cause asthma in the first place.
Doctors have identified several different types of asthma including adult-onset asthma, allergic asthma, and exercise-induced asthma. Scientists have not linked any specific genes to a particular type of asthma, Szefler says. However, there is evidence that every type of asthma has a genetic component.
In a study, published in 2008 in Twin Research and Human Genetics, researchers compared the incidence of asthma in twins to determine how strongly genes affect the likelihood of developing asthma, compared with environmental factors. The results showed that genetics plays a very large role the genes account for about 70% of your risk of developing asthma.
It's important to remember that even though genes are an important risk factor for asthma:
About half of all asthma sufferers start having symptoms as children age 5 and younger. But for people who develop asthma later in life, genes are less likely to play a role. This may be because some older people develop asthma due to lifestyle choices like smoking.
In addition to genetics, asthma may be caused by:
In many cases, experts don't know why some people develop asthma while others don't. However, there are risk factors that can increase your risk. These include:
There is no way to prevent asthma, even if you start treatment early on after your symptoms develop, says Szefler. Researchers are starting to look at whether using biologic medications containing live bacteria could work to prevent asthma, Szelfer says, "but the results are several years off."
However, even if you can't prevent asthma, there are steps you can take to prevent asthma attacks:
Asthma is an ongoing condition and you should "maintain good medical follow-up to keep the disease under control," Szefler says. You will need to make an individual treatment plan with your doctor, designed to target your symptoms and help avoid your asthma triggers.
Continued here:
There is a strong genetic component to asthma, but it's not the only risk factor - Insider - INSIDER
- Is ALS Hereditary? Genetics, Inheritance Patterns, and More - Healthline - May 5th, 2024
- Leveraging functional genomic annotations and genome coverage to improve polygenic prediction of complex traits ... - Nature.com - May 5th, 2024
- Genetic association of inflammatory marker GlycA with lung function and respiratory diseases - Nature.com - May 5th, 2024
- Exome sequencing reveals genetic heterogeneity and clinically actionable findings in children with cerebral palsy - Nature.com - May 5th, 2024
- Investigation of inherited noncoding genetic variation impacting the pharmacogenomics of childhood acute ... - Nature.com - May 5th, 2024
- Pitfalls in the genetic testing of the OPN1LW-OPN1MW gene cluster in human subjects | npj Genomic Medicine - Nature.com - May 5th, 2024
- Reply to: Pitfalls in the genetic testing of the OPN1LW-OPN1MW gene cluster in human subjects | npj Genomic Medicine - Nature.com - May 5th, 2024
- Lifespan is influenced more by lifestyle than genetics - Earth.com - May 5th, 2024
- Scientists discover over 100 new genomic regions linked to blood pressure - National Institutes of Health (NIH) (.gov) - May 5th, 2024
- Genetics studies have a diversity problem that researchers struggle to fix - The Lund Report - May 5th, 2024
- Researchers discover the genetic cause of the most common brain malformation - EL PAS USA - May 5th, 2024
- Genetic link between adolescent drinking and adult anxiety may offer therapy target | UIC today - UIC Today - May 5th, 2024
- Phylogenomics and genetic analysis of solvent-producing Clostridium species | Scientific Data - Nature.com - May 5th, 2024
- New genes are involved in the adaptation of acorn barnacles to sessile life - Nature.com - May 5th, 2024
- Rachel Khong explores genetics, race and the idea of being American in new novel - Wyoming Public Media - May 5th, 2024
- Genetic testing led to early cancer detection for father, daughter - Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center - May 5th, 2024
- EYE ON HEALTH: High risk and genetic testing being offered at local hospital - Local 3 News - May 5th, 2024
- Fatty Liver: Is It Hereditary? - Healthline - May 5th, 2024
- Southern Seven Health Department to expand genetic cancer testing - KFVS - May 5th, 2024
- Genetic associations of key genes in breast cancer pathogenesis - News-Medical.Net - May 5th, 2024
- Mating Study Unlocks the Genetic Code of Attraction - Neuroscience News - March 18th, 2024
- Mindfulness in your DNA? Capacity to be present is partly a function of genetics, study finds - PsyPost - March 18th, 2024
- Genetic testing scam targets Medicare recipients, including those in Spokane - KXLY Spokane - March 18th, 2024
- Some people are genetically predisposed to gain weight. These 5 tips can help - CNN - March 18th, 2024
- SOPHiA GENETICS and The French Kidney Cancer Research Network (UroCCR) Publish Results from Multiyear ... - PR Newswire - March 18th, 2024
- Tissue samples show the deep genetic and cellular impacts of smoking - Medical Xpress - March 18th, 2024
- The regulatory landscape of chromatin accessibility - Nature.com - March 18th, 2024
- Genome assemblies of 11 bamboo species highlight diversification induced by dynamic subgenome dominance - Nature.com - March 18th, 2024
- Research reveals the genetic code behind non-identical twins - Medical Xpress - March 18th, 2024
- How genetic therapies transformed the lives of sickle cell patients - KPVI News 6 - March 18th, 2024
- The Next Wave of Privacy Litigation: The Illinois Genetic Information Privacy Act - Perkins Coie - March 18th, 2024
- State initiates study on genetic cancers, Lynch Syndrome - The Times of India - March 18th, 2024
- How genetic therapies transformed the lives of sickle cell patients - Citizentribune - March 18th, 2024
- Dr Plichta on Areas of Interest for Genetic Testing Research in Breast Cancer - OncLive - March 18th, 2024
- The Genetic History of the Jews Mosaic - Mosaic - March 18th, 2024
- New insights into genetic mechanisms could improve treatment of liver fibrosis - Medical Xpress - March 18th, 2024
- 5 Questions To Ask About The Ethics Of Genetic Data - Forbes - March 18th, 2024
- Couple raising money to fix sons club feet caused by rare genetic condition - 21 Alive News - February 18th, 2024
- What can bulls tell us about men? Genetic discovery could translate to human fertility research - Medical Xpress - February 18th, 2024
- Legislation seeks to bar life insurance companies from purchasing recreational genetic testing data - Delaware First Media - February 18th, 2024
- Family-based study identifies potential new genetic factors linked to Alzheimer's risk in people with African ancestry - National Institute on Aging - February 18th, 2024
- Genetic determinants of micronucleus formation in vivo - Nature.com - February 18th, 2024
- Near-gapless and haplotype-resolved apple genomes provide insights into the genetic basis of rootstock-induced ... - Nature.com - February 18th, 2024
- Accurate and sensitive mutational signature analysis with MuSiCal - Nature.com - February 18th, 2024
- CRISPR, the Genetic Revolution of the 21st Century | OpenMind - BBVA OpenMind - February 18th, 2024
- Genetic control of thermomorphogenesis in tomato inflorescences - Nature.com - February 18th, 2024
- Natural selection and genetic diversity maintenance in a parasitic wasp during continuous biological control application - Nature.com - February 18th, 2024
- Understanding how natural genetic variation contributes to adaptive responses to low oxygen - News-Medical.Net - February 18th, 2024
- Division of Epidemiology and Genetics - Epidemiology and Genetics - University of Southern California - February 18th, 2024
- Genetic study clarifies the link between birth weight and adult morbidity - Medical Xpress - February 18th, 2024
- AI and genetics underpin project to speed up CVD diagnosis and personalise treatment - Hospital Healthcare - February 18th, 2024
- Study Reveals Complex Interaction Between Genetics and Environment in Brain Functioning - Medriva - February 18th, 2024
- Unraveling the Impact of Genetics and Socioeconomic Status on Behavioral and Psychiatric Traits - Medriva - February 18th, 2024
- Genetic Investigation Reveals CETP Gene Variants Linked to Cardiovascular Resilience in Genome-Wide Association ... - Physician's Weekly - December 30th, 2023
- Raha Kapoor's blue eyes remind fans of her great-grandfather, Raj Kapoor; here's what genetics says - IndiaTimes - December 30th, 2023
- Genetic clue to pericarditis inflammation points to promising new treatments - News-Medical.Net - December 30th, 2023
- Certain genetic predispositions may increase risk of atrial fibrillation among those with high alcohol consumption - 2 Minute Medicine - December 30th, 2023
- Understanding the genetic basis of hereditary diffuse gastric cancer - News-Medical.Net - December 30th, 2023
- Genetic engineering was meant to save chestnut trees. Then there was a mistake. - The Washington Post - December 30th, 2023
- Unraveling the mystery of hereditary diffuse gastric cancer - EurekAlert - December 30th, 2023
- What is Genetics? | AMNH - American Museum of Natural History - December 22nd, 2023
- Who killed Shelley Connolly? Genetic genealogy leads authorities to a suspect and a conviction - Alaska's News Source - December 22nd, 2023
- C.S. Lewis, Atheism, and the Genetic Fallacy - Word on Fire - December 22nd, 2023
- FDA approves first genetic test to assess opioid addiction risk using DNA sample - Fox News - December 22nd, 2023
- Genetic blueprint of wild grapes could help breed better grapes - University of California, Davis - December 22nd, 2023
- Unlocking the genetic secrets of grape seedlessness - Phys.org - December 22nd, 2023
- Unlocking the genetic secrets of drought resilience in Persian walnuts - Phys.org - December 22nd, 2023
- FDA approves genetic test to assess patients risk of developing an opioid addiction - KXAN.com - December 22nd, 2023
- How researchers are CReATiNG synthetic chromosomes faster and cheaper - EurekAlert - December 22nd, 2023
- The promise of genetic therapies in sickle cell disease - The Lancet - December 22nd, 2023
- Assessment of genetic diversity, population structure and wolf-dog hybridisation in the Eastern Romanian Carpathian ... - Nature.com - December 22nd, 2023
- Genetics and Heart Disease: What you need to know - IndiaTimes - December 22nd, 2023
- How to become a geneticist - University of Sydney - December 22nd, 2023
- Study sheds light on the ancestry and genetics of Coast Salish woolly dogs | News | Vancouver Island University ... - Vancouver Island University News - December 22nd, 2023
- Human genetics | Description, Chromosomes, & Inheritance - December 13th, 2023
- BASIC GENETICS INFORMATION - Understanding Genetics - NCBI Bookshelf - December 13th, 2023
- Introduction to Genetics - Open Textbook Library - December 13th, 2023
- Clues to preventing Alzheimer's come from patient who, despite genetics, evaded disease Washington University ... - Washington University School of... - December 13th, 2023
- Environmental stress rather than genetics influenced height differences in early Neolithic people: Study - Phys.org - December 13th, 2023
- What is trisomy 18? Why the fatal genetic disorder is in the news and what it's like to get the diagnosis. - Yahoo Life - December 13th, 2023