A recent article on CNN.com linked asthma to dust cloud exposure from 9/11 in 13.5 percent of adults who had experienced intense dust clouds on that day. Recovery and rescue workers had it worse (probably because they were constantly in the dust). Apparently, the possible inhaling of large amounts of dust could irritate the airway, according to the article.
This article led me to a curiosity for other unusual causes (or possible causes) of asthma, since it is a prevalent health problem. According to EmpowHer.com, asthma is "inflammation and narrowing of the bronchial tubes. Air travels in and out of the lungs through these tubes."
Another interesting article I found about possible causes of asthma was from the NY Times. This article claimed that cockroach remains in house dust were the main cause of asthma in children who lived in inner-city public housing. This outranks dust mites, dog dander and outdoor air pollen.
A HealthDay article posted on EmpowHer.com suggested that parental stress can increase the probability of children having asthma. Although main probable causes of asthma include air pollution from cars and children in the womb exposed to smoking, parental stress can agitate asthma related to these problems. By itself, stress and socioeconomic status didn’t increase asthma risk, the researchers said.
One of the researchers said the cause of asthma is still unknown. However, it seems that there are a lot of possibilities. For example, in women, it seems that intimate partner violence (IPV) can show an association with harmful health conditions and health risk behaviors, such as asthma. According to a study reported by the CDC, 16 percent of women who suffered from IPV also suffered from asthma, as compared to 9.4 percent of women who didn’t suffer from IPV. However, arthritis, smoking, binge drinking and risk factors for STDs and HIV were more concerning consequences of IPV.
Another HealthDay article posted on EmpowHer.com suggested that point-of-sale printers can trigger asthma, since they print on thermal paper that contains acrylates. According to one of the authors of the study, the printers are used everywhere, like “to pay with credit cards in a restaurant or in any shopping center.”
There are many more possible triggers of asthma, such as “a substance secreted by eczema-damaged skin” in children, according to a HeathDay article posted on EmpowHer.com. It is beneficial to be aware of all these possible triggers and to get frequent check-ups with your doctor, especially if you suspect you have a condition that needs to be treated, such as asthma. For more information on asthma, visit EmpowHer.com’s asthma page: https://www.empowher.com/condition/asthma.
Sources:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/08/05/dust.exposure.asthma/
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/07/health/07asth.html?_r=1
https://www.empowher.com/media/reference/asthma#definition
https://www.empowher.com/news/2009/07/21/parental-stress-boosts-kids-asthma-risk
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5705a1.htm
https://www.empowher.com/news/2009/05/27/point-sale-printers-may-trigger-asthma
https://www.empowher.com/news/2009/05/19/molecule-skin-may-link-eczema-and-asthma