Public Health Scene

Asthma is a chronic disease of the lungs that affects about 20 million Americans. And since the early 1980s Asthma has been on the rise, although researchers and health professionals are not sure why.

John Adgate, an associate professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Minnesota, says that the causes of asthma are not clear. But he says that there are prevention steps that people can take to reduce their risk of asthma.

These include keeping your home clean—encasing your pillows and mattresses, for example—and not smoking. Indoor allergens such as dust mites, cockroaches, and pet dander can trigger attacks in people with asthma.

For more, listen to Adgate by clicking play below: