What are the causes of asthma?

Contrary to popular belief, it is the disposition for allergies that is inherited; not asthma. If your child becomes allergic to something in the environment, he or she has an increased chance of developing asthma.

Factors that can cause or worsen asthma are the following:

Global pollution:
Exhaust gas, industrial smoke, pesticides, increasing concentration of pollen.

Meteorological factors:
Cold, foggy air with high humidity, changes in barometric pressures.

Food industry contamination:
Nutrient solutions and artificial fertilisers that seep into crops; growth hormones, steroids, antibiotics, and tranquillisers that are incorporated into the cells of livestock; colouring dyes, preservatives, flavouring, stabilisers, and heavy metals that are contained in processed food in alarming quantities.

Home contamination:
Dust mites in furniture upholstery and curtains, overgrowth of mould, animal hair, irritating gas (cigarette smoke, fumes, smells, cosmetic products: deodorants, hair spray, hair dye, cleaning supplies).

Increased physical stress:
Jogging, exhausting physical labour or prolonged forced laughter or crying.

Frequent respiratory illnesses:
Common colds, viral infections.

Emotional stress:
The asthmatic child can become irritated because he or she is limited in participating in recreational, play or sport activities. Increased expectations from teachers and parents can result in degradation of the condition from simply lack of self-confidence.