Theory 09/Thresholds & Tipping/Asthma
Exacerbations Tip on Two Exposures
The claim
Asthma exacerbation occurs when viral load and allergen exposure together cross a threshold, so either alone can be tolerated while the pair triggers.
01Mechanism
Inflammation from allergen and from infection are additive on the same airway pathway; the sum crosses a clinical threshold that neither reaches alone.
02Prediction
Exacerbation should require both exposures or a high one.
03Refutation
Exacerbation tracking a single exposure would remove the interaction.