Can Stress Bring On An Asthma Attack

What Happens In Stress

Documented by scientists, the following are just some of the stressful events that can trigger an asthma attack:

• Family conflict
• Exposure to violence
• Public disasters

Although stress is a normal part of life, experts concur that asthma patients who practice reducing their stress levels may lessen the number of asthma attacks a patient has. Ongoing research by psychologists offers a better understanding of how stress and our airways relate. New asthma treatments stemming from this research include:

• Breathing retraining
• Cognitive-behavior therapy

Treatment Of Stress And Anxiety Induced Asthma Attacks

After making the diagnosis, the first thing to manage is airways obstruction. That is achieved by using inhalatory bronchodilators, which can be beta-adrenergic agonists , or anticholinergics . Corticosteroids are often used in moderate to severe cases of asthma attacks. For very persistent cases, intravenous or oral administration of aminophylline is the next line treatment. Rarely, if airways get obstructed to the life-threatening point when the person cannot breathe at all, intravenous administration of epinephrine can be used. Epinephrine can cause fatal arrhythmias, so this measure should be used as a last resort and with great caution with constant monitoring of electrical activity of the heart by using ECG.

After eliminating the airways obstruction, it is important to make sure that the patient takes their prescribed therapy. This chronic therapy usually includes using inhalers with corticosteroids on a daily basis. There are also inhalers containing a combination of a corticosteroid and bronchodilatatory medications, in order to decrease the frequency of asthma attacks as much as possible. Some patients will never experience asthma attacks if they use the prescribed treatment appropriately.

How Do I Cope With Anxiety During An Asthma Attack

Asthma can cause a shortness of breath. Being short of breath can trigger an involuntary panic attack, as well as a voluntary panic attack if you believe your survival is at risk.

You can remedy this by having rescue medication available, understanding how long it takes for your medication to work, knowing when to seek emergency help, and by calming yourself down. Its also helpful to make an action plan in collaboration with your doctor ahead of time so that you dont have to try and figure things out during an asthma attack.

Gergen says, The best stress reliever is having your medications and an action plan and knowing how to use it.

If you are concerned that asthma may prevent you from living a normal life, you may want to talk with an anxiety disorder therapist to help you address this concern as well as help you devise strategies on how to best manage asthma while living a normal life.

The combination of stress management, learning to behave less anxiously, and managing asthma well could allow you to live a normal life without any, or minimal, restrictions.

When asthma is managed well, Self-limiting isnt really necessary, says Gergen.

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If you suffer from asthma, you know that the feeling of not being able to breathe is very frightening.

For some people, asthma and anxiety go hand-in-hand. Its often difficult to unravel the connections between the two. Thats because both conditions cause similar symptoms, especially shortness of breath.

You might experience anxiety about when your next asthma attack will occur. The stress of an asthma attack can even lead to a panic attack.

If you know what triggers your asthma or anxiety symptoms, you can take steps to reduce the frequency of attacks and maybe even prevent them.

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Anxiety Does Not Cause Asthma

Some people worry that anxiety causes asthma. There is currently no evidence that anxiety can create asthma in those that did not originally have the condition. But there is a great deal of evidence that anxiety can worsen existing asthma symptoms.

The most likely reasons for why anxiety exacerbates asthma symptoms include:

• Hyperventilation Anxiety changes breathing habits. Many studies have shown that hyperventilation, whether its caused by a disorder or no disorder at all, appears to increase the likelihood of an asthma attack. So those with anxiety that may be more prone to hyperventilating may be unintentionally forcing their own attack symptoms.
• Inflammation Stress can lead to inflammation. Asthma is the inflammation of airways. Its unlikely that stress causes the inflammation that leads to asthma, but its possible that stress makes it harder to control inflammation when your asthma symptoms are acting up.
• General Physiological Changes On a physical level, stress does cause some issues that may contribute to asthma. For example, anxiety can release an excess of histamine that can lead to asthma attacks. Stress may also weaken your immune system in such a way that you become more vulnerable to viruses and external asthma triggers.
• Muscle Constriction Muscle constriction is also very common with anxiety. Muscle constriction can lead to tighter chest and other issues that may trigger asthma.

How Do I Manage Stress

Learn to change thought patterns that produce stress. What you think, how you think, what you expect and what you tell yourself often determine how you feel and how well you manage rising stress levels.

Reduce stressors . Identify the major stressors in your life: money problems, relationship problems, grief, too many deadlines, busy schedule and lack of support. Get professional help for problems that are too difficult to deal with by yourself.

Try to avoid situations that trigger stress for you. Practice effective time-management skills, such as delegating when appropriate, setting priorities, pacing yourself and taking time out for yourself.

Practice relaxation exercises. Relaxation exercises are simple to perform and combine deep breathing, releasing of muscle tension and clearing of negative thoughts. If you practice these exercises regularly, you can use them when needed to lessen the negative effects of stress. Relaxation exercises include diaphragmatic and pursed lip breathing, imagery, repetitive phrases and progressive muscle relaxation. Many commercial audiotapes and books that teach these exercises are available.

Exercise! Its an excellent way to burn off the accumulated effects of stress.

Get enough sleep. If you are not sleeping well, you will have less energy and fewer resources for coping with stress. Developing good sleep habits is very important. Here are some tips:

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Is Stress A Trigger For An Asthma Attack

Stress is a common trigger for asthma. An asthma trigger is anything that brings on asthma symptoms. When you have stress and asthma, you might feel shortness of breath, anxious, and even panicked. Stress may be a reason for your asthma symptoms to worsen and cause you to feel frightened.

When stress levels start to creep upward, asthma symptoms can progress into overdrive. As the wheezing and coughing gets worse, your health becomes one more reason to worry. Asthma, stress, and anxiety make for a vicious cycle, and one that can spiral downward quickly.

Learning how to manage your stress is important to managing your asthma. Since stress is a part of daily life, with or without asthma, it is important to find effective ways to manage your stress. Relaxation and breathing exercises are ways to relax before you feel stressed and can help with shortness of breath and can help avoid an asthma attack.

If the symptoms of asthma persist, you may want to schedule an appointment with your Doctor for further testing. If you do not have a private physician, the Ambulatory Care Center at Jamaica Hospital Medical has convenient hours of operation and an appointment can be scheduled by calling 718-206-7050.

What To Do If You Think Youre Having An Asthma Attack

If you suspect youre having an attack, follow these steps:

Its safe to use an albuterol rescue inhaler even if the expiration date has passed. However, the medication inside may not be as effective, so you may need to use more of it to find relief. Dont use an inhaler thats been damaged or stored in direct sunlight.

If you dont have a rescue inhaler, call 911 immediately. In the meantime, try to remain calm and move away from nearby respiratory irritants, like cigarette smoke, pets, or outdoor pollen.

Even if you manage to get an asthma attack under control on your own, you should still visit your family doctor within the next few days. Your doctor can determine if you require additional medications, clinical testing, or if theres an underlying condition that led to the attack.

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How To Recover From A Severe Asthma Attack

Some tips to recover from a severe asthma attack include:

• Rest: Having a severe asthma attack can be scary and stressful. The stress response can result in fatigue. It takes time and rest for your body to recover.
• Book a follow-up appointment: This is an opportunity to ensure that your asthma action plan is as up-to-date and effective as possible. Your healthcare provider can review the conditions that led to your asthma attack and adjust your medications or make suggestions that can help you to avoid future attacks.
• Take medications as prescribed: Poor adherence to medications has been identified as a trigger for asthma attacks and a factor that leads to a more difficult recovery. If you have questions or concerns about your medications, talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
• Do not overexert yourself: You may find yourself becoming tired after even a small amount of exercise or movement. This is common after a severe asthma attack. Give it time and listen to your body.

Emotional Causes Of Diseases Starting With M

MENOPAUSE: Fear of no longer being wanted.Affirmation: I am balanced and peaceful in all changes of cycles and know that I am loved.

MENTAL ALERTNESS & SENILITY: Returning to the safety of childhood. Demanding care and attention.Affirmation: I am safe and life is peaceful. The intelligence of the Universe operates at every level of life.

MIGRAINE HEADACHE: Sexual fears, or fear of being close, letting someone in too close. Feeling driven or pressured.Affirmation: I relax into the flow of life and let life provide all that I need easily and comfortably. I love Life!

MENSTRUAL IMBALANCE/PMS: Rejection of ones femininity. Guilt or feeling dirty.Affirmation: My bodily processes are a natural part of life. I love and approve of myself.

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Its Easy To Get The Care You Need

See a Premier Physician Network provider near you.

If you suffer from asthma, you know that the feeling of not being able to breathe is very frightening.

For some people, asthma and anxiety go hand-in-hand. Its often difficult to unravel the connections between the two. Thats because both conditions cause similar symptoms, especially shortness of breath.

You might experience anxiety about when your next asthma attack will occur. The stress of an asthma attack can even lead to a panic attack.

If you know what triggers your asthma or anxiety symptoms, you can take steps to reduce the frequency of attacks and maybe even prevent them.

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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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Living With Anxiety And Asthma

I’ve reviewed how anxiety and asthma are connected. The way asthma disrupts everyday life can be frustrating, and oftentimes, you may think you can’t control it. But this isn’t the case. In my next installment, I will teach you some valuable tips and tricks on how to manage your asthma and lower your anxiety.

Other articles in this series include:

Asthma Vs Panic Attack Whats The Difference

It can be challenging to differentiate between an asthma attack and a panic attack because both often present similar symptoms. Both can cause shortness of breath and chest tightness, but in addition to these, panic attacks have a whole slew of other symptoms you may not be aware of.

Knowing the difference is important if this happens to you or to someone around you.

How do I manage an asthma attack?

An asthma attack can be treated by quick-relief medication such as a fast-acting or rescue inhaler. It is important to see your doctor if you find yourself constantly wheezing or needing to use a rescue inhaler more than a few times per week.

How do I manage a panic attack?

Often, controlled breathing and/ or deep belly breaths can help. Medications are also available to help control anxiety attacks speak to your doctor if you think this might be right for you.

Prevention is possible through exercise, propersleep, and by taking time for relaxationactivitiesandtechniques. It is also helpful to seek out the appropriate mental health support, which could include speaking with a trusted therapist or counsellor.

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Reducing The Effects Of Stress

Since any stress in your life can trigger attacks even with controlled asthma, its important to limit its impact to avoid the downward stress cycle. Dr. Horton and her team can help you devise stress management strategies as part of your treatment plan. Common strategies include:

• Positive sleep cycle: including bedtime rituals and a healthy sleep cycle
• Regular exercise: even for patients with exercise-induced asthma
• Nutritious diet of whole foods
• Developing and using a support network: to delegate responsibilities and improve focus
• Relaxation training and meditation: to help dispel the impact of unavoidable stress

Finding the right mix of solutions to your asthma condition may take some trial and error. The professionals at Alpha Internal Medicine are the first members of your asthma support network.Contact the office online or by phone to schedule your consultation today.

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How Can Stress Bring On An Asthma Attack

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.

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If You Have Questions Or Comments About Asthma Go To Webmd’s Asthma Chat Board Moderated By Paul Enright Md

“Many who have the illness know all about it, but there isn’t much data to back it up in the medical literature,” MacQueen says. “If it’s true, it may explain why medication alone doesn’t work very well in some patients.”

Monday, at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, in New Orleans, MacQueen presented preliminary data from a small study that would seem to validate the long-suspected connection between emotion and asthma. In that study, MacQueen tested 80 patients with mild to moderate asthma using a standard questionnaire to identify those who were highly “suggestible” — that is, who were highly responsive to cues and suggestions in their environment — and those who were not suggestible.

To the nine people identified as suggestible and the eight identified as nonsuggestible, MacQueen administered a mock solution of salt water, using the kind of inhaler typically used to administer asthma medications. But prior to administration, MacQueen actually told the subjects it was a solution that would cause their airway to constrict.

The result: even though the solution was harmless, six of the patients actually experienced constriction of the airway. And of those six patients, five were in the suggestible group, says MacQueen.

So what can patients with asthma do?

“People with asthma like the notion that there are some aspects of the illness they can control, by looking for triggers,” she says.

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