How Much of an Affect Does Stress Have on Asthma Symptoms?

Not everyone understands how much stress can negatively impact a person’s health. We’ve long known, thanks to a wealth of research, that there is relationship between stress levels and asthma symptoms. In the past, scientists have primarily focused on their idea that stress makes asthma symptoms worse. However, a new research study has questioned that assumption. Read on to learn more and then contact Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group at 805-658-9500 if you need help treating your asthma.

The study in question was completed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

There was a $2 ½ million study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison that challenges this idea. It was led by Dr. William Busse and the question it’s exploring is whether the converse is actually true: Does asthma exacerbate stress? Researchers have found that it’s stressful to not be able to breath. They want to look deeper at how asthma affects the brain and the ways in which stress affects the lungs.

The first thing they did was induce asthmatic events

The researchers began by inducing asthmatic events in the subjects. They then looked at the communication that went from the lungs to the brain, using MRI technology. As they looked at the parts of the brain that were activated due to the asthma symptoms, they hope to be able to tell for sure whether having an asthma event actually leads to higher stress.

It’s more challenging to discover how stress impacts asthma

While the job of figuring out how much asthma impacts stress is fairly straightforward, the same cannot be said for observing how stress impacts asthma. Dr. Busse will put some people under stress and then induce an asthma attack. The details of that attack will then be studied and monitored.

The study is not yet complete

As of the writing of this blog, the study isn’t complete. However, Dr. Busse believes that the data’s going to show that there’s communication between the brain and lungs that works both ways. As a result, there is likely a feedback loop that can lead to additional stress and additional asthma symptoms. To put it simply: It’s possible that stress makes asthma symptoms worse, and that this increase in asthma symptoms makes stress worse, and that the cycle continues.

The goal is for medical and non-medical strategies

Dr. Busse’s goal is to find medications that can help as well as non-medication strategies that can help. Once they understand the specific pathways and molecules that are involved in communication between the lungs and brains, then medication may be invented to block that signaling.

No matter where you are at this moment, if you experience asthma then you should speak to an immunologist. At Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group, we can help diagnose your exact conditions, find the right treatment methods for you, and work with you as we uncover the right way for you to move forward. Contact us today at 805-658-9500 to begin the consultation process.