What causes asthma?

The following was originally published on healthcentral.com/asthma on 4/30/12

24 things that may cause asthma

Asthma is a disease that's been described in writings that go all the way back to 5,000 B.C.  Despite it's long history, asthma experts still struggle to understand why 10 percent of people develop this disease.  

Around 400 B.C. the Hippocratic writers suspected asthma was hereditary, and asthma physicians for years have suspected the same.  Yet they had no proof.  

Thankfully modern scientists have been working overtime to learn more about this disease, particlarly with one question in mind:  what causes asthma? 

The latest evidence is quite stunning.  While scientists continue to believe there is a hereditary or genetic link, they've also learned that you don't have to have the asthma gene to develop asthma. 

This wisdom is important because it may lead to methods of preventing asthma, better medicine, and a possible cure.  As of this day, scientists have linked all of the following as possible causes of asthma.  (Please click on the link provided for further reading):

1. Genetics/ heredity/ family history
2. Lack of exposure to germs
3. H. Pylori infection  
4. Imbalance of microbes in the gut
5. Allergies 
6. Mold 
7. Cigarette smoke
8. Gastrointestinal Reflux (GERD)
9. Atopy (Eczema)
10. Air pollution  
11. Lack of vitamin D  
12. Obesity
13. High fat foods
14. Low birth weight
15. Premature birth
16. Bronchiolitis (RSV)
17. Winter birth
18. Exposure to chemicals
19. Nasal Congestion
20. Antibiotics
21. Tylenol
22. High endurance exercise
23. Birth by c-section
24. Poor diet