With the acceleration of global urbanization, more than half of the population lives in cities, and the impact of urban environment on human health is becoming more and more prominent. Asthma, as the most common chronic respiratory disease in the world, is rising at an alarming rate, affecting the lives of about 260 million people. Although the academic community has long confirmed that single environmental factors such as air pollution and lack of green space are related to asthma, they often exist at the same time in reality, and there is little systematic research on the combined effect on the risk of asthma.
With the acceleration of global urbanization, more than half of the population lives in cities, and the impact of urban environment on human health is becoming more and more prominent. Asthma, as the most common chronic respiratory disease in the world, is rising at an alarming rate, affecting the lives of about 260 million people. Although the academic community has long confirmed that single environmental factors such as air pollution and lack of green space are related to asthma, they often exist at the same time in reality, and there is little systematic research on the combined effect on the risk of asthma.
Asthma refers to bronchial asthma, a respiratory disease characterized by chronic airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness, usually manifested as recurrent wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness or coughing, etc. Genetics and environment are the main factors leading to asthma.
- Environmental factors: With the development of urban industrialization and the popularization of automobiles, air pollution is becoming increasingly serious. In addition, urban residents often use items such as air conditioners and carpets, which may release harmful substances, irritate and damage the respiratory tract, and thus cause asthma.
- Lifestyle: The lifestyle of urban residents is different from that of rural residents, such as keeping pets, planting flowers and plants, using carpets and air conditioners, etc. However, pets' fur debris, feces and saliva may contain allergens that cause asthma. Similarly, plant pollen and spores may also become important allergens. In addition, mites and molds that breed in carpets and air conditioners can also induce asthma.
- Use of electrical appliances: Frequent use of various electrical appliances, such as computers, fax machines, televisions and refrigerators. The odorless and tasteless ozone gas emitted by these appliances may irritate the eyes and tracheal mucosa, and in severe cases may induce rhinitis and asthma. In closed high-rise office buildings with poor ventilation conditions, this situation is even more serious.
- Dietary structure: The diet of urban residents is becoming more and more refined, and people are more dependent on cooked food in supermarkets. Chemical additives such as food flavorings, preservatives, preservatives and colorants may also be factors of allergies.
- Mental factors: The pace of urban life is accelerating, competition is fierce, and people are under increasing mental pressure. This may lead to endocrine imbalance in the human body, thereby triggering asthma.
- Influence of drugs: Due to the improvement of medical conditions and the widespread use of drugs such as antibiotics, the drug resistance of viruses and bacteria has increased, leading to changes in human immunity, which may also increase the incidence of asthma.