Why Are Asthma Rates Soaring?

"Studies now suggest that only half of asthma cases have an allergic component."

That sounds about right.

The other 25% are smokers and wonder why they can't breath right.

The last 25% are overweight and out of shape.

Wait, I'll put my glazed donut down and respond...

Gee, why are a number of diseases "surging?" Diabetes is another. Here are some other similar references:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/89666.php

http://www.gallup.com/poll/123887/u.s.-diabetes-rate-climbs-above-11-could-hit-15-2015.aspx

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2003/pr27/en/

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2008/11/17/cancer-rates.html

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090609124608.htm

This is just a sampling. Quackwatch disputes that cancer rates are increasing, but the two citations at their article are from 1995 and 1998. No one has seen fit to update to later references. Maybe there's a reason.

I suspect, you can name a disease and there's a good chance it's on the increase. When I have time, I'll do that little exercise just for my own curiosity. Of course, paranoia may lead one to question statistics from ANY source.