Asthma Healing

If you have asthma, you're not alone. More than 31 million Americans have been diagnosed with asthma at some point in their lifetime, about a third are children under 18 years of age.

There is no sure way to tell who will develop asthma and who won't. However, some factors may make it more likely that you'll have the condition. See if you recognize any below:

• Age—Asthma is more common in people under 18 years of age. It's the most common chronic disease among children, and a leading cause of missed school days (and missed work days for parents).
• Cigarette smoking—Cigarette smoking can increase your risk of developing asthma as an adult. For children, second-hand smoke increases their risk.
• Urban living—The number of people who have asthma has increased during the last 20 years, especially in urban areas.