Asthma__A_common_chronic_illness_in_Australiaz.docx Asthma: A Common Chronic Illness in

Asthma__A_common_chronic_illness_in_Australiaz.docx    Asthma: A Common Chronic Illness in Australia  Department of Psychology, Grand Canyon University  PSY: 352  Asthma: A Common Chronic Illness in Australia  Asthma is a chronic illness that affects individuals across the world. Asthma is defined as a respiratory condition that is marked by spasms that occur in the bronchi of the lungs (To et al., 2012). These spasms cause breathing to become difficult. Asthma can result from many factors that are genetic and environmental. Asthma does run in families, but it is not caused by a mutation of one gene (Thomsen, 2015). Genetically, asthma is caused by several genes interacting with one another and with external environmental factors(Thomsen, 2015). Environmental factors that can cause, trigger, or exacerbate asthma include pollen, smoke, allergens, and air pollutants. Certain areas around the world have higher instances of asthma than others. Specifically, Australia is the country that has the highest prevalence of asthma due to these environmental factors, and most evidently wildfire smoke (Hunter, 2018). Incidence of Asthma in Australia can be reduced or prevented by educating the public and implementing wildfire prevention techniques.   Australia  Australia is a country and continent that is located in Oceana between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean. Australia possesses a western culture that is derived from Britain, Torres Strait Islander, Aboriginal, and other Oceanic people. The majority of Australians of are of