Asthma symptoms occur because your airways become inflamed and restricted. You may start to wheeze or have trouble catching your breath. An asthma attack on its own can be very stressful. In addition, periods of stress not associated directly with an attack can also exacerbate your symptoms. Learning to recognize the signs of feeling stressed, understanding how stress affects your asthma and taking steps to control stress will all allow you to better manage your condition.
Stress Causes Panic
Feelings of stress and anxiety can cause you to become out of breath according to the Cleveland Clinic. You may also begin to panic, which makes your breathing difficulties even worse. This can lead to a vicious cycle. In addition, feeling stressed can cause you to take quick shallow breaths, which can trigger symptoms. Learning to manage stress will help you to avoid panic when you are having trouble breathing.
Treatments Are Less Effective
According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute psychological stress can interfere with your asthma management plan and makes your symptoms harder to treat. They state that treating your stress is an essential part of your overall treatment plan. During periods of stress, you are less likely to take care of yourself. You may abandon your treatment plan and participate in unhealthy behaviors. You may skip your exercise program, gain weight and smoke--all of which may increase your symptoms.
Stress Triggers Attacks
The American Lung Association claims that emotional stress is a common trigger for asthma. Even crying or yelling can be enough to set off an attack. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, when you feel stressed you may also become fatigued. This can inhibit the effectiveness of your immune system, which can lead to a worsening of your asthma symptoms or bring on an attack.
Stress Increases Airway Inflammation
A study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information suggests that chemicals released during the activation of the stress response can accelerate the inflammatory response to irritants in those with asthma. The study states that "Our model suggests that stress accentuates this immune response to environmental triggers." This reaction can occur whether the stress is acute (short term) or chronic.
