The condition usually develops in childhood, when it is more common among boys than girls. However, among adults more women than men suffer asthma symptoms. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute also reports that the tendency toward asthma is higher among blacks than whites. Some people inherit the tendency to develop asthma. Allergy sufferers are also at risk.
Asthmatic people respond to substances in the environment called triggers.
Different people react to different triggers, but common ones are cold air, exercise, dust mites , mold, pollen, animal dander, cigarette smoke, perfumes and some types of viral infections. When exposed to a trigger, a person's airways become narrow and inflamed. During an attack, an asthmatic's chest grows increasingly tighter, and the person begins to cough, wheeze and experience shortness of breath. Medications, both oral and inhaled, usually can relieve these symptoms, but serious attacks require emergency medical attention. It may affect people who are not otherwise asthmatic, although it often happens more in people who have allergies or a family history of allergies.