Researchers are stumped by the marked escalation of childhood asthma over the past decade, but there is no shortage of possible reasons for the spike. A recent Miami Herald story runs through the usual suspects of likely culprits, from a genetic disposition to cigarette smoke, but notes that another potential cause is childhood obesity.

“It is well known and well documented that patients who are obese are more likely to get asthma in a more severe way,” said Dr. Andrew Colin, director of the pediatric pulmonology division of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. “The fat tissue can exacerbate the inflammatory processes going on in the lungs.”

Another possible cause, notes the newspaper, is too much cleanliness. “When you live in an area where you are exposed to bacteria it makes your body more immune,” said Colin. “We now are living in the house where air isn’t circulated and there is a lack of exposure to those elements in nature that would protect us.”

Whatever accounts for the growing numbers, the fact is that more than 7 million kids in the U.S. have asthma. It is the most common chronic disease in children. That’s why we are committed to furthering cutting-edge research into medical treatment.