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Back Our FAQs address detailed and common questions about asthma, especially for those with long-standing conditions. If you still have unanswered questions after reviewing this portal, feel free to contact our team at contact@euforea.eu. Please note that we cannot answer personal inquiries. About the disease What is asthma? Asthma is a long-term (chronic) condition that affects the airways (the breathing tubes in your lungs). It causes three main changes in the airways: inflammation of the inner lining of the airways, tightening of the muscles around the airways, and extra production of mucus. People with asthma can get symptoms like wheezing, breathlessness, a cough or a tight chest. Sometimes symptoms can get worse quickly. This is called an asthma attack or asthma flare-up. Some people with asthma don’t realise they have it. They may think they just keep getting repeated chest infections or colds, when in fact, asthma could be the real cause. Is asthma a psychological disease? No, asthma is not a psychological condition. Some people think this because stress or strong emotions can sometimes make asthma symptoms worse. But asthma is a physical health problem affecting the airways in your lungs. The airways become swollen and narrow, making it hard to breathe. While feelings like stress can trigger symptoms, they do not cause the disease itself. How many people suffer from asthma? Asthma is a common condition, affecting more than 250 million people worldwide. Over the past few decades, the number of people with asthma has increased. In high-income countries, asthma rates seem to be levelling off or even slightly decreasing. However, in many low- and middle-income countries, asthma is still on the rise — likely due to factors like air pollution, urban living, and lifestyle changes. Who is more likely to get asthma? Some people are more at risk of developing asthma. You’re more likely to get asthma if you have food allergy, eczema (atopic dermatitis), hay fever (allergic rhinitis) or if these conditions or asthma run in your family. Exposure to smoke, air pollution, household chemicals, or irritants at work can also increase the risk — especially in people who already have an underlying tendency to develop asthma. Certain viral respiratory infections in early childhood may also increase the chance of developing asthma. Children with a higher weight and adults are also at a higher risk. At what age do you develop asthma? Asthma often starts in childhood and can continue into adulthood or disappear only to recur later. Some asthma develops in adulthood — this is called late-onset asthma. Most adults with asthma do not lose it permanently. Can you die from asthma? Unfortunately, yes — severe asthma attacks can be life-threatening if not treated quickly. Most asthma-related deaths happen in people who did not receive the right treatment. Death can happen in mild asthmatics and can be related to anaphylaxis or thunderstorms. This can happen for several reasons, such as: not realising how serious their asthma is; having a treatment plan that fails to control their symptoms; not being able to afford treatment or choosing not to spend money on it. With the right care and medication, most asthma deaths are preventable. Using a certain type of asthma relievers, called short-acting beta-agonists (SABAs), too often has been linked to an increased risk of asthma-related deaths. SABAs provide quick relief of asthma symptoms, but do not treat the underlying airway inflammation. This can lead to poor asthma control, and it increases the risk of severe or even life-threatening asthma attacks. This is why it is no longer recommended to use SABA inhalers as the only treatment for asthma. Guidelines now recommend an anti-inflammatory: an inhaled steroid- even for patients with mild asthma. Inhaled steroids have been shown to reduce asthma deaths. The doses inhaled are minute and safe for long-term use. Can you outgrow asthma? Unfortunately, the answer is usually no. Asthma symptoms may decrease or even fully disappear, but the condition never really goes away. If you had asthma as a child, you might notice a decrease in breathing issues as you grow older.  That’s because your lungs grow and your immune system becomes stronger. A proportion of children with asthma do lose it with growth. Still, for most people, the underlying problem — swelling and narrowing in the airways — does not go away, which is why you can still have asthma flare-ups later in life. Causes and triggers What causes asthma? The exact cause of asthma is not fully known, but it is thought to develop through a combination of your inherited (genetic) factors and things you are exposed to in your environment. You may be more likely to develop asthma if: You have a parent or close relative with asthma or other allergic conditions such as hay fever or eczema You have allergies. Allergens (such as pollen, house dust mites, pets, and moulds) can cause asthma to develop You’re exposed to irritants such as tobacco smoke, air pollution, chemicals, or fumes You had certain viral lung infections early in life You live with obesity Find out more about the causes of asthma in our ‘About the disease’ section. What are the most common asthma triggers? First of all, it’s important to know that everyone’s asthma is different, meaning that what triggers symptoms in one person might not affect someone else. The most common triggers are: Allergens (pollen, house dust mites, animal dander, mould, …) Irritants (cigarette smoke/vape, air pollution, strong odours, chemicals, …) Respiratory infections (flu, common cold) Weather changes (cold air or sudden changes in temperature, thunderstorms) Stress or strong emotions Strenuous physical activity. If exercise triggers your asthma, your doctor may recommend using your inhaler before starting and keeping it with you during activity. Staying physically active is strongly encouraged — it’s good for your overall health and can even help improve your asthma in the long-term. Symptoms and diagnosis What are typical asthma symptoms? Asthma symptoms are caused by inflammation in the airways. Typical asthma symptoms are wheezing