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Can Stress Bring On Asthma

How Can Stress Bring On An Asthma Attack

How does asthma work? – Christopher E. Gaw

The airways in the lungs are sensitive to stress, and when a person is under stress, the muscles around the airways tighten. This causes the airways to narrow, which can lead to asthma symptoms.

We are aware that being under a lot of pressure might increase the likelihood that you will have asthma symptoms. Persons who have asthma and who are also coping with persistent or severe stress are at a greater risk of having an asthma attack or going to the hospital due to their asthma.

Emotional Causes Of Diseases Starting With S

SAGGING LINES: Sagging lines on the face comes from sagging thoughts in the mind. Resentment of life.Affirmation: I express the joy of living & allow myself to totally enjoy every moment of every day. I become young again.

SCABIES: Infected thinking. Allowing others to get under your skin.Affirmation: I am the living, loving, joyous expression of life. I am my own person.

SCIATICA: Being hypocritical. Fear of money & of the future.Affirmation:: I move into my greater mood. My good is everywhere and i am safe and secure.

SCOLIOSIS: See Round Shoulders

SCRATCHES: Feeling life tears at you, that life is a ripoff.Affirmation: I am grateful for my lifes generosity to me. I am blessed.

SEA SICKNESS: Fear. Fear of Death. Lack of control.Affirmation: I am totally safe in the Universe. I am at peace everywhere. I trust life.

SENILITY: Returning to the so-called safety of childhood. Demanding care & attention. A form of control over those around you. Escapism.Affirmation: Divine protection. Safety. Peace. The intelligence of the Universe operates at every level of life.

SICKLE CELL ANAEMIA: A belief that one is not good enough that destroys the very joy of life.Affirmation: The child lives and breathes the joy of life and is nourished by love. God works miracles every day.

SEIZURES: Running away from the self, family or from life.Affirmation: I am at home in the Universe. I am safe and secure and understood.

SHOULDERS: Are meant to carry joy not burdens.

SYPHILIS:

Stress And Anxiety Management

Anxiety that builds up can lead to panic attacks. If you experience frequent anxiety, consider seeking help from a mental health professional. They can help you work through your anxiety and reduce the likelihood of external stressors triggering a panic attack.

Even if you dont have an anxiety disorder, stress is common. However, stress can also trigger your asthma, so its important to manage it as best as possible.

Some steps you can take to reduce everyday stress include:

  • incorporating relaxation techniques, such as meditation and deep breathing exercises, into your day to day
  • getting regular physical exercise
  • reducing intake of alcohol and caffeine
  • getting enough sleep

Also Check: Does Humidity Make Asthma Worse

Asthma Symptoms Attacks And Anxiety

Common asthma anxiety symptoms descriptions include:

  • You notice your asthma symptoms or attacks get worse and more persistent in association with your anxiety.
  • You might also notice your overall asthma symptoms have increased, that you are experiencing more asthma attacks, or your asthma condition is more problematic overall than normal when your anxiety is more problematic.
  • You have noticed a connection between your anxiety or stress and an increase in asthma symptoms or attacks.

Asthma symptoms include:

  • Chest tightness
  • Rapid breathing

Many find their asthma symptoms increase more in the early morning or at night. Asthma attacks, however, can occur at any time and can be triggered by a number of factors.

Asthma is caused by a narrowing and swelling of the airways, which can also cause a production of mucus that makes it difficult to breathe.

Some medical sources have linked the swelling of airways to inflammation, which can be triggered by an overly sensitive/reactive immune system. Because stress can suppress the bodys immune system, stress can play a role in the degree and prevalence of asthma.

During periods of stress and anxiety, asthma attacks occur more frequently, and asthma control is more difficult. Peter Gergen, MP, MPH, a senior medical officer at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Exploring The Connection Between Stress And Autoimmune Disease

Can Stress Trigger Asthma?

In this new study, researchers analyzed more than 100,000 people diagnosed with stress-related disorders and compared their tendency to develop autoimmune disease at least one year later with 126,000 of their siblings, and another million people who did not have stress-related disorders.

The study found that individuals diagnosed with a stress-related disorder

  • were more likely to be diagnosed with an autoimmune disease
  • were more likely to develop multiple autoimmune diseases
  • had a higher rate of autoimmune disease if younger.

*Patient-years is an expression that combines how many and for how long people are assessed in a study. If the frequency of a condition is 9 per 1,000 patient-years, that means 9 people would develop the disease among ,1000 patients monitored for 1 year, or among 500 patients monitored for 2 years, and so on).

A particularly important observation was that, for those with PTSD who were being treated with an SSRI , the increased rate of autoimmune disease was less dramatic. While these observations are intriguing, they dont tell us why or how a stress-related disorder might provoke or cause autoimmune disease.

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How To Control Asthma When You Have Anxiety

Asthma is still a separate condition, and as such it is treated separately. Continue to take medications as directed by your doctor, and keep your emergency inhaler on hand just in case. Although there are links between anxiety and asthma, you’ll still need to control your asthma just as you would if you didnt have anxiety.

But you can also look for ways to manage your anxiety. If you’re able to get your anxiety under control, you should be able to weaken the likelihood of asthma flares. In other words, if youre less anxious, youll be better equipped to cope with your asthma.

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The Usual Caveats About Observational Studies

Its important to emphasize that a study of this type cannot conclude that stress-related disorders actually cause autoimmune disease. There could be other explanations for the findings. For example, it is often impossible to identify a precise date that an autoimmune disease or a stress-related disorder began. So, despite the researchers requirement that the autoimmune disease be diagnosed well after the stress-related disorder, its possible that the autoimmune condition was already present before the stress-related disorder was diagnosed. If that was the case, the stress-related disorder could not have caused the autoimmune disease.

In addition, its possible that something other than the stress-related disorder was to blame for the higher rate of autoimmune disease. For example, people who have been through severely stressful circumstances may be more likely to smoke, and smoking has been linked to an increased risk of certain autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

One more point: this study appears to have included type 2 diabetes among the 41 autoimmune diseases it considered. Although this is the most common type of diabetes , it is not considered an autoimmune disease. Different results might have been noted if stricter definitions of autoimmune disease had been applied.

Also Check: Is Asthma A Restrictive Lung Disease

Did You Know Stress Can Trigger An Asthma Attack

There are occasions when stress may be beneficial. Even a little bit may make a big difference in our ability to get things done or how energized we feel. It has the potential to improve our performance on tests, enable us to come out on top in a race or get us out of harm’s way. On the other hand, there are occasions when we feel overwhelmed by stress or perceive that something is placing more pressure on us than we can bear.

The body’s physiological reaction to stress has also been demonstrated in studies to activate the immune system and induce the production of certain hormones. This may result in inflammation inside the lungs’ airways, which can then set off an asthma attack.

Having asthma as a chronic condition may also lead to worry and anxiety. According to the findings of a few pieces of research, having asthma is connected with an increased risk of developing the panic disorder later in life.

Stress induced asthma is a new phenomenon that has been observed in recent years. It is characterized by an asthma attack that occurs when the individual is under stress.

The exact cause of this phenomenon is still unknown, but it has been hypothesized that the stress hormone cortisol may be to blame.

When you feel stressed, your body releases the hormone cortisol. The function of cortisol is to slow down bodily functions that might put your body in danger and kick in system-maintenance tasks that allow it to prepare for something stressful.

Living With Asthma And Anxiety

What is Asthma? (HealthSketch)

While managing asthma and anxiety can be tricky, there are treatments and therapies that aid in easing both conditions.

Breathing retraining. Breathing retraining can help control asthma and calm anxiety, studies show. Difficulty with breathing is a symptom of hyperventilation, which occurs with panic, and is also a symptom of asthma. Breathing retraining teaches you exercises that change the speed and regularity of your breathing patterns. The therapy can improve asthma symptoms and pulmonary function, reduce airway hyper-reactivity and reduce bronchodilator use.

Heart rate variability biofeedback. Heart rate variability biofeedback is a therapy that works by teaching you to match your heart rate to your breathing. This training can improve pulmonary function, reduce asthma symptoms and reduce the need for asthma medicine.

Cognitive behavior therapy . Cognitive behavior therapy is a form of therapy that helps you change the way you think about your fears. CBT uses relaxation techniques and problem-solving to change the way you react to and behave during situations that create anxiety.

Medicines. Your doctor may also prescribe medicines to treat your asthma and your anxiety. Many people who take asthma medicine also take anti-anxiety medicine to keep them calm.

Exercise. Movement and exercise can also improve your asthma symptoms and reduce stress. Talk with your doctor about the best exercise plan for you.

Recommended Reading: Is Allergy Induced Asthma Dangerous

Autoimmune Disease And Stress: Is There A Link

A new study has raised the possibility that stress may cause autoimmune disease, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, because it found a higher incidence of autoimmune diseases among people who were previously diagnosed with stress-related disorders.

I have patients who heard about this research and are saying, “I knew it!”

But before we accept a potential link between stress and autoimmune disease, lets look at some details of the study and consider how we define the terms “autoimmune disease,” “stress,” and “stress-related disorder.”

Emotional Causes Of Diseases Starting With W

WARTS: Little expression of hate. Belief in ugliness.Affirmation: I am the love and the beauty of life in full expression.

WISDOM TOOTH IMPACTED: Not giving mental space to create a firm foundation.Affirmation: I open my consciousness to the expansion of life. There is plenty of space for me to grow and change.

WRIST: Represents movements and ease.Affirmation: I handle all my experiences with wisdom, love, and ease.

I hope that this list of emotional sources of disease helps you. Low-frequency emotions are the primary way that we weaken our energetic field, lowering our immune system such that disease states may develop. If you look within, you will discover that your inner voice and feelings hold some of the answers to healing the physical body. Better understanding our emotions and knowing how to express them safely helps you to align with healthier outcomes. This list is based on the work of Louise Hay and featured in her book, Heal Your Body.

Shanna

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Learning Good Control Makes Life Easier

Good control of asthma is associated with no difference in anxiety and depressive symptoms compared to people without asthma in a number of research studies. This suggests that it is not the diagnosis itself, but rather asthma control that leads to anxiety and depressive symptoms. This is good news for asthma patients because there are direct steps you can take to control your asthma.

Other articles in this series include:

S To Better Breathing With Asthma

Asthma

Practicing deep-breathing exercises, like “Belly Breathing” can help with the overall management of asthma. When you are experiencing shortness of breath, try using a “Pursed Lip” breathing technique to relax your airways.

Watch the demonstration videos to learn more about these breathing techniques:

Read Also: Can You Die From Exercise Induced Asthma

How To Keep Your Anxiety Under Control

Again, while anxiety cannot cause a patient to develop asthma, living with asthma can cause anxiety. Health concerns are a common trigger for some anxiety cases. A patient put through the shock of an asthma attack, especially when it results in hospitalization, could easily develop an anxiety disorder from living in chronic fear. This anxiety, in turn, exacerbates the asthma symptoms, which triggers intensified anxiety, and so on.

If this is the case, the best method of treatment is to do everything you can to relieve the anxiety symptoms before they become a problem. Anxiety like pollen, dust, or mold is an asthmatic trigger, and needs to be treated like one. When you anticipate an anxious situation arising, try calming exercises to stem the anxiety. Or if you suspect something may lead to anxiety in the future, take preventative measures or avoid the situation altogether.

Try some of these stress-reduction techniques to keep calm under pressure:

Meditate: Gift yourself a moment of peace. Take a deep breath, and clear your mind of stressful thoughts. Focus on being present, and savor the physical sounds and sensations surrounding you. Meditation, and the art of being present, is a proven relaxation technique to calm the mind and body.

If your anxiety symptoms are severe, consult a trained medical professional for therapy and medication. Remember that asthma always requires medical treatment and specialized attention.

Causes Of Anxiety Induced Asthma

Anxiety-induced asthma can be caused by any stressful situation. Situations that may trigger these symptoms include any big changes, moves, financial problems, relationships, school, or work. In some cases, there may not be just one cause, but can be a mixture of any of these. People with asthma may often feel anxious that their asthma is preventing them from living a normal life or their asthma attacks may lead to a time of panic. Since avoiding stressful situations is nearly impossible, it is imperative to learn the best ways to manage stress.

During these periods of intense stress, people are more prone to forget to take their medication as well. When medication is forgotten, then there is a greater chance for an attack.

Your body is not able to fight off colds or other diseases during times of stress either, which may lead to more attacks. It is important to be conscious of how much sleep you are getting and to eat and drink for proper nutrients.

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Emotional Causes Of Diseases Starting With V

VAGINITIS: Anger at a mate. Sexual guilt. Punishing the self.Affirmation: Others mirror the love and self-approval I have for myself. I rejoice in my sexuality.

VARICOSE VEINS: Standing in a situation you hate. Feeling overworked and overburdened.Affirmation: I stand in truth and live and move in joy. I love life and circulate freely.

VENEREAL DISEASE: Sexual guilt. Need for punishment. Belief that the genitals are sinful or dirty.Affirmation: I loving & joyously accept my sexuality & its expression.

VERTIGO: Flighty, Scattered thinking. A refusal to look.Affirmation: I am deeply centered and peaceful in life. I am safe for me to be alive and joyous.

VITILIGO: Not belonging. Feeling completely outside of things. Not one of the group.Affirmation: I am the very center of life and I am totally connected in love.

VULVA: Represents vulnerability.

Researchers Investigate How A Stressed Brain Can Make Asthma Worse

What Severe Asthma Looks Like | WebMD

William Busse, a professor of asthma, pulmonary and critical care medicine at the UWMadison School of Medicine and Public Health, is looking at connections between the immune system and the brain. Clint Thayer/Department of Medicine

Researchers at the University of WisconsinMadison are investigating cross-talk between the brain and lungs of people with asthma in a four-year, $2.5 million study to understand how psychological stress can make asthma symptoms worse.

Through a clinical study called AsthMatic Inflammation and Neurocircuitry Activation, or MINA, the team hopes to decipher exactly how mind and body connect when people with asthma experience stress and find ways to alter brain-lung communication to help them manage their disease.

Richard Davidson

The effort is led by two groups with international reputations in the two areas united by the study: a team led by William Busse, a professor of asthma, pulmonary and critical care medicine at the UWMadison School of Medicine and Public Health and a team headed by Richard Davidson, William James and Vilas Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the UW-Madison Center for Healthy Minds.

A project 20 years in the making

The new study represents a partnership between Busse and Davidson that extends back to 1995, when the pair participated in a scientific meeting focused on how stress may alter a persons susceptibility to worsening asthma.

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Asthma Attack Vs Panic Attack

Both asthma and panic attacks can cause breathing difficulties and a tight feeling in your chest.

Sometimes its difficult to distinguish between an asthma attack and a panic attack because they have similar symptoms.

But these are two different conditions that require separate considerations for management and treatment.

Heres a breakdown of their general differences:

Asthma attack
life changes

People with asthma and panic disorder may experience more severe symptoms from attacks.

The better you manage both asthma and anxiety, the less likely you are to experience an asthma or panic attack.

Our Bodies Are Quite Fond Of Breathing Especially Relaxed Easy Breathing

We take it for granted until airways become inflamed and breathing difficulties crop up. Many asthma patients report that stress triggers their asthmaor is it that their asthma stresses them out? Yes to both.

A trigger is anything that causes asthma symptoms to flare. Anything from pollen to pollution and even stress can trigger the bodys airways to tighten and inflame, making it tough to breathe. Stress can actually make you more sensitive to your other asthma triggers.

Our stress levels can shoot through the roof thanks to family, finances, work, big life changes pick a day, and it could be something different. Any type of stress can trigger the release of hormones that cause difficulty breathing and chest tightness. This naturally results in panicky feelings, which then lead to even more stress. It can be a tough cycle to get under control.

Stress can also disrupt routines that usually keep asthma attacks at bay. For instance, you may normally be rock solid about taking your daily controller medication and keeping a rescue inhaler nearby. When youre under a lot of stress, you might forget these things altogether and end up more susceptible to an asthma attack.

In another knock against stress , chronic stress reduces our immune systems ability to fight off viruses and bacteria that want to make us sick. Respiratory illnesses can lead to asthma flare-ups.

Also Check: Why Do Asthma Attacks Happen At Night

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