Even scarier, if it’s not managed properly, it can become life-threatening. In fact, statistics show that more than 3,000 people died from it in just one year.
Another scary notion is that there’s currently no cure for it. There are just lifestyle changes and medications that can be used to manage it.
So just what is this mysterious "it" that affects so many?
"It" is asthma, a condition that can flare up at any time regardless of gender or age.
Asthma is a lung disease that causes both an inflammation and constriction of the airways leading to the lungs, as well as a buildup of mucus. This makes the movement of air to and from the lungs more than difficult.
As a result, those with asthma wheeze. In addition, they can experience tightness of the chest, shortness of breath, and morning or nighttime coughing.
Here’s the thing: some have a greater risk of developing asthma than others. Check out these five risk factors that increase the chance of developing asthma.
1. It's All in the Family
Asthma can be an inherited thing. In other words, if a person's parents or other blood relatives have it, they might develop it too.