Causes

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. If this bacteria enters a person’s body, they will develop Tuberculosis. Smoking is a huge factor of Tuberculosis as it can increase one’s chance of getting it. The likelihood of someone getting Tuberculosis can also depend on their family’s history with the disease, smoking, or drugs. This can either increase or decrease a person’s chance of getting TB. Learn more here. (NCBI)

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is more commonly caused by bacteria and viruses, but less common causes are fungi and parasites. Germs that can give someone pneumonia in a community are different from the germs found in a healthcare setting, like a hospital or a pediatric center. When someone is infected with pneumonia, doctors are not always able to find out which germ caused it. Learn more here. (This information came from the CDC.)

Asthma

Asthma has numerous causes such as

  • Viral infections

  • Family history. If a parent in a family (especially mothers) have asthma, it will increase the risk of asthma in the family.

  • Allergies

  • Obesity

  • Race or ethnicity. Black people and Puerto Ricans are more likely to get Asthma because of the likely hood of living somewhere with bad air quality. This is an environmental justice issue. More information here.

  • As children, Asthma is more common in boys than girls. However, asthma is more common in women for adults.

  • Air pollution and changes in the climate can cause more exposure to allergens, which can cause asthma.

  • Having bad conditions at a workplace

  • This information came from (NIH)

COPD

COPD is mainly caused by smoking or second-hand smoke. It can also be caused by environmental risks in a workplace, like chemicals, dust, or smoke. Family history of COPD or Asthma can greatly increase the risk of getting COPD. Also, bad air quality is a major risk factor of COPD. COPD can also be risky due to age. People of ages 65 and older are at risk of COPD. Also, women are more likely to develop COPD than men because of smaller airways and hormonal changes. Learn more here. This information came from CDC.

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer has many causes such as

  • Exposure to smoking or second hand smoke

  • Being exposed to radon. Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally and causes the breakdown of uranium in soil and rocks.

  • Working with asbestos. Asbestos are mines, mills, textile plants, places where insulation is used, and shipyards. These places can have poor air quality, or factors that make the air unsafe.

  • Exposure to radioactive ores

  • Chemicals in the workplace that can make the air unsafe. Some of these chemicals are arsenic, silica, and mustard gas. (There are many more of these chemicals that can be cancer inducing)

  • Air pollution

  • Exposure to arsenic. “Studies of people in parts of Southeast Asia and South America with high levels of arsenic in their drinking water have found a higher risk of lung cancer.” (American Cancer Society)

  • Family history of lung cancer

  • This information came from the American Cancer Society