Asthma is a suddenly occurring shortness of breath caused by a narrowing of the lower respiratory tract. Usually it is due to an allergy.

Today we know that asthma develops not only because of pollutants and unhealthy habits, but rather that genetic disposition plays a role as well.

An example: the incidence of asthma is as high as 30% among the inhabitants of the island Tristan da Cunha, although on this scenic island there are hardly any pollutants which can be held responsible for triggering asthma. The geneology of the island inhabitants provides the solution to the riddle. All 282 inhabitants of the island Tristan da Cunha can be traced back to 15 ancestors, among whom two were asthmatic.

Scientific studies of the affected families also indicate strongly that that the susceptibility for asthma can be genetic. A newborn’s risk of falling ill with asthma is increased threefold if the father or the mother suffers from asthma. If both parents are affected, the risk for the child increases sevenfold.

Studies on twins also confirm that the disposition for asthma is hereditary.