Asthma is a serious chronic lung disease that appears to be on the rise in the world.Asthma causes breathing problems due to a narrowing of the airways causing the lungs to get less air.
Air pollution plays a well-documented role in asthma attacks and to some extend also in initiating the disease. Children may be more strongly affected by air pollution because their lungs and their bodies are still developing. They are also exposed to more air pollution than adults since they breathe faster and spend more time outdoors in strenuous activities.
Recent Study
Recently a study was conducted by the University of Southern California. The team studied the health records and genetic profiles of 3,000 children. Those with a gene distinction were slightly more at risk. Enzymes called EPHX1 and a gene called GSTP1 appear to have some responsibility for getting rid of harmful chemicals which we breathe in. The researchers found that those who had high levels of EPHX1 were 1.5 times as likely to have been diagnosed with asthma, while those who also had variations in GSTP1 as well were four times as likely to have asthma. The risk doubled in children living near the main road and more exposed to traffic fumes.
The study is not yet complete but it paves way for very valuable research about how genetic susceptibility to respiratory disease and environmental traffic fumes can cause childhood asthma. A very severe attack of asthma can even kill. Apart from air pollution, colds, the flu, cigarette smoke, pollen and stress. There is no known cure for it but it can be controlled with drugs.
Via:BBC
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