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Suffering from an overload of stress may not be good for most people, but if you suffer from asthma it could make your symptoms much worse.
Stress is a known trigger for asthma. When the pressure piles on, someone with asthma may start to feel short of breath. And if they don’t do anything about it, they may suffer an asthma attack.
A growing body of evidence suggests children are particularly susceptible. In fact the link between stress and asthma may begin as early as in the womb. According to Bristol University’s Children of the 90s study, pregnant women who are very stressed are 60 percent more likely to have a baby who will go on to develop asthma compared to a less stressed woman.
A separate study, published in the medical journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, claims parents who suffer from high levels of stress have kids wiht a higher risk of develping asthma than less-stressed adults.
The stress-asthma effect, however, isn't exclusive to children. German researchers from Heidelberg University suggest work stress is linked to a higher risk of developing asthma. Writing in the mdeical journal Allergy, the experts dicovered people who suffer from high levels of stress in their jobs are nearly 50 percent more likely to develp the condition than those with low levels of work stress.
So if you suffer from asthma, it’s important to be prepared. That means making sure you have your reliever inhaler with you at all times, and especially whenever there’s a chance you’ll feel under stress. This could include all sorts of situations, from watching a thrilling action movie to sitting a crucial exam.
And if your current medication isn’t working as well as it should, talk to your pharmacist or your GP – they can advise you whether or not you’re using your medication properly, or suggest other treatment options that might work more effectively.
Keep up with the latest news about asthma by visiting our asthma page on a regular basis. For more information, check out Asthma UK’s website at www.asthma.org.uk
Breathe easy
Several studies show that relaxation breathing techniques may be particularly effective for asthmatics.Here’s an abdominal relaxation breathing technique from the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America that you can practice several times a day:
