Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - Asthma is a widespread ailment that causes the airways in the lungs to narrow, producing shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing.
More than 25 million people have asthma in the United States.
A study in the journal BMJ links asthma to people’s jobs.
It looked at 5,500 subjects born in 1958 who were followed until they were 42.
According to the study:
- Farming quadrupled the risk of developing adult asthma
- Printing tripled the risk
- Hairdressing doubled the risk
Those who were exposed to flour, enzymes, cleaning and disinfectant products, and metal and metal fumes were 53 percent more likely to develop asthma compared to those with no exposure.
Overall, researchers found that 16 percent of adult asthma was related to workplace exposure.
