OVERWEIGHT PEOPLE MORE LIKELY TO GET ASTHMA

Obese and overweight people are 50 percent more likely to get asthma than those of normal weight. Asthma is an inflammatory disease usually triggered by an allergy that can cause wheezing, coughing and labored breathing that can be life-threatening. Obesity has the capacity to impact lung function in a variety of ways. In obese people the lungs are under-expanded and the size of breaths is smaller. These factors make it more likely that their airways will narrow. There are also changes in the blood levels of hormones derived from fat tissue in the obese that may affect the airways. Losing excess weight is therefore helpful in preventing asthmatic attacks.