What is Factor (medicine)?
[[File:Smoking woman Kelsey.jpg|thumb|Smoking is a ''risk factor'' for getting [[asthma]]. If a person already has asthma smoking can be a ''trigger factor'' for an asthma attack.]] A '''risk factor''' in [[medicine]] is something that causes, or helps to cause, a medical condition. For example, smoking or breathing in somebody else's [[tobacco]] smoke (called second-hand smoke) is a risk factor for [[emphysema]] and [[lung cancer]]. A '''trigger factor''' causes the [[Signs and symptoms (medicine)|symptoms]] of a medical condition to begin in a person who already has that medical condition. Example: Smoking or breathing in someone else's smoke can be a trigger factor for asthma. The person already had [[asthma]] but the smoke caused an asthma attack.<ref>Richard Blonna, Daniel Watte 2005. ''Health Counseling: a microskills approach''. Jones & Bartlett Learning, p. 166. {{ISBN|0763747610}}</ref> {{clear}} ==References== <references /> {{med-stub}} [[Category:Medicine]]