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The Role of Stress in Asthma
Author(s) -
VIG RATTANJEET S.,
FORSYTHE PAUL,
VLIAGOFTIS HARISSIOS
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1366.023
Subject(s) - asthma , exacerbation , airway hyperresponsiveness , medicine , inflammation , disease , airway , immunology , asthma exacerbations , bronchial hyperresponsiveness , chronic stress , neuroscience , respiratory disease , psychology , lung , pathology , anesthesia
Asthma, a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, is greatly influenced by psychosocial factors and stress. This review looks at clinical studies that have shown strong associations between psychological stress and asthma to identify potential mechanisms for these interactions. Furthermore, we review animal studies involving stress and airway inflammation or airway hyperresponsiveness, and discuss possible mechanisms of stress action in asthma. In conclusion, further research, both in humans and in animal models, into the mechanisms of stress‐induced changes in asthma exacerbation are required to help better understand the complex makeup of asthma and assist in the development of therapies directed at the interplay between the nervous system and airway inflammation.