Does Asthma Run in the Family?

Asthma and other atopic conditions can run in the family, meaning, if you have a family history of the condition, you are more at risk of developing it. There’s no cure for this bronchial condition, but it can be effectively managed with modern treatments and research continues to reveal more about asthma causes.

Is Asthma Genetic?

It’s understandable to be curious about what causes asthma. It’s a complex disease and while the exact cause is still unknown, research has shown that both genetics (what you inherit from your parents) and environmental factors are involved.

Children who have parents with asthma are more likely to have it themselves. If one parent has asthma, there’s a 25% chance (1 in 4) [1] their child will too. If both your parents have it, this risk rises to 50% (1 in 2). You are also more likely to have other related atopic conditions, such as eczema, hay fever, or food allergies.

The influence of genes is highlighted in twin studies, [2] which have found that asthma is more likely to occur in people who have a close blood relative with the condition. For identical twins, the likelihood of both twins having asthma is higher than non-identical twins. But it’s 75% more likely [3] rather than 100% guaranteed, highlighting that environmental factors play a role too.

This does not mean that you’ll definitely develop asthma if other members of your family have it, just that the genetics predispose you to a greater risk. Nor does it mean that you won’t develop the condition if your relatives are all free of asthma.

Is There an Asthma Gene?

While asthma can be genetic, environmental factors play a part too. Unlike other inherited conditions, there is no single gene for asthma. Neither is there a guarantee that you will develop it if your parents had it, as it can skip a generation. Genetic research has identified various asthma genes, or gene complexes, that play a strong role. These include DPP10, GRPA, and SPINK5.

Genomics is the study of how your genes interact with the environment. This research shows that a combination of several genes interacting with each other and with environmental factors can increase the likelihood of asthma. [4] Genomic research is ongoing and provides a valuable insight into the complexity of asthma and the various factors involved in its development. Environmental factors that can increase the risk of asthma occurring can be both indoor and outdoor. For example, being exposed to second-hand smoke, poor air quality, pollution, cold temperatures and high humidity can all increase your risk.

Several genetic factors can predispose you to a greater risk of developing asthma. These include:

• Your family history
• Your sex

Asthma and Your Sex

Studies have found that asthma is more common [5] in young boys, whereas girls are more likely to be affected after puberty. Some experts believe this could be due to boys’ airways being smaller than girls’ airways, increasing the risk of wheezing.

By the age of about 20, the ratio of asthma is the same in women and men. However, by the age of about 40, women are more likely to develop adult-onset asthma than men. There’s also some evidence to suggest women are more likely to have severe asthma than men.

Is Hereditary Asthma Curable?

No forms of asthma, be it hereditary asthma or occupational asthma caused by exposure to fumes, dust, or other substances through your work, are fully curable. However, there are a number of effective medications and lifestyle measures that can be used to successfully manage and treat your symptoms.

Your health care team will work with you to create an Asthma Plan that suits you. This tailored approach works well, as no two cases of asthma are identical and it can affect people in different ways.

As for the future, it’s possible that increased genetic knowledge and research could lead to more personalized medicine and pharmacogenetics [4] for asthma. This means that asthma treatments could be better tailored to you as an individual, and that your genetic information could be used to predict in advance how you’ll respond to certain treatments.

Last Edited 10/06/2024