5th January 2024

Risk factors

Factors that may contribute to airway hyperresponsiveness and asthma may include the following:

• Environmental allergens
• Family history
• Viral respiratory infections
• Exercise, hyperventilation
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Chronic sinusitis or rhinitis
• Aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) hypersensitivity, sulphate sensitivity
• Obesity
• Tobacco smoke
• Occupational exposure: Insects, plants, latex, gums, diisocyanates, anhydrides, wood dust, and fluxes
• Irritants (e.g., household sprays, paint fumes)
• Emotional stress
• Perinatal factors such as prematurity and increased maternal age; maternal smoking, and prenatal exposure to tobacco smoke