Stress, anxiety and depression during pregnancy increase the risk of developing asthma symptoms in offspring, confirm the American research published in the July issue of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
Such conclusions were reached by scientists from Columbia University in New York, who studied 279 pregnant African American and Latin American women and their children. Data was collected on stress, anxiety and mood disorders before and during pregnancy.
It turned out that wheezing (especially when exhaling), which is one of the symptoms of asthma, was found before the age of 5 in as many as 70% of children. mothers who admitted that they experienced severe anxiety or depression during their pregnancy.
Understanding how maternal mental health affects the baby’s respiratory system can play an important role in developing effective asthma prevention measures, comments co-author Marilyn Reyes.
Similar results were obtained earlier by scientists, among others from the USA and Great Britain.
Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the lower respiratory tract. It is manifested by excessive bronchial reactivity to various irritants, such as allergens, cold air, viruses, and physical exertion. The bronchial tubes constrict in response to them, significantly reducing airflow in the airways and leading to attacks of breathlessness, coughing and wheezing.
In children, asthma can manifest as a nagging cough that lasts for days or weeks, as well as sudden and dangerous breathlessness, explains one of the study authors Rachel Miller.
Asthma is one of the most common chronic conditions. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), it affects around 350 million people. In Poland, the number of people with asthma symptoms is estimated at 4 million. (PAP)