People who are neurotic seem to be at high risk of developing asthma. Those who suffer through a divorce or other relationship conflict are also at risk for asthma.
People who are neurotic (tend to worry a lot and to have emotional ups and downs) seem to be at high risk of developing asthma. Those who suffer through a divorce or other relationship conflict are also at risk for asthma.
Animal studies have shown that chronic stress alters hormone levels, which can inflame airways making it difficult to breathe. Researchers believe that neurotic character traits may exert similar effects. If so, then helping neurotic people to calm down could, theoretically, reduce their risk of asthma.
Researchers explored associations between neuroticism, stressful life events and asthma by surveying a sample of 5,114 men and women aged 40 to 65 years from Germany.
The link between high neuroticism and the development of asthma was present in women and men, whereas breaking off a life relationship increased asthma risk only in women. Unemployment and death of a close person were not significantly associated with the development of asthma.
Among the 4,520 individuals reported to be free of asthma at the start of the study, 63 or about 2 percent, developed asthma during a median follow-up of more than 8 years. According to the researchers, individuals who were highly neurotic were three times more likely to develop asthma than those who were less neurotic, and breaking off a life partnership increased the risk of asthma development by more than twofold.
The physiological mechanisms by which personality, stress, and emotions might influence the development or course of asthma are still not well known. Therefore the researchers call for more study on personality traits, stress and asthma.
Animal studies have shown that chronic stress alters hormone levels, which can inflame airways making it difficult to breathe. Researchers believe that neurotic character traits may exert similar effects. If so, then helping neurotic people to calm down could, theoretically, reduce their risk of asthma.
Researchers explored associations between neuroticism, stressful life events and asthma by surveying a sample of 5,114 men and women aged 40 to 65 years from Germany.
The link between high neuroticism and the development of asthma was present in women and men, whereas breaking off a life relationship increased asthma risk only in women. Unemployment and death of a close person were not significantly associated with the development of asthma.
Among the 4,520 individuals reported to be free of asthma at the start of the study, 63 or about 2 percent, developed asthma during a median follow-up of more than 8 years. According to the researchers, individuals who were highly neurotic were three times more likely to develop asthma than those who were less neurotic, and breaking off a life partnership increased the risk of asthma development by more than twofold.
The physiological mechanisms by which personality, stress, and emotions might influence the development or course of asthma are still not well known. Therefore the researchers call for more study on personality traits, stress and asthma.
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