a new theory about asthma by me
By shogunly
@shogunly (1397)
Libya
January 9, 2007 9:52am CST
hi
iam a medical doctor , i have had asthma ever since i can remember .
i know everything in the medical literature (almost everything) but from remembering the times when it got worse and better , and from re-examining my life , i have come to the conclusion that Asthma ,at least in my case, was caused largely by PSYCHO-SOCIAL factors , among these
1 i grew up in a western society for some time, then my family moved to a third world country and moved around a lot even there, which i know now caused a type of chronic anxiety , and in accordance with my theory , my asthma suddenly grew severes (my breathing stopped at least ten times and i had to be resuscitated.)
2 i was shy by nature and i liked reading a lot , i was a good student .the environment was not so friendly , because at first i was going to school with other children who were not like me ,made me feel they were better for some reason ,after that when i came to my original country , i couldn't find kids to share my interests with leading to me being alone and isolated most of the time .
3.i became more confident after entering university and making it to the top of the class , my asthma was so much improved i actually started to smoke !
4.nowadays i suffer from the same old asthma +plus COPD from smoking for 12 years ,i notice when i am nervous , i cough a lot and my chest becomes wheezy ,with immediate relief when removed from the anxiety-causing situation .
5.i also had some other conditions , which i also think are related to CHRONIC ANXIETY like ACNE (i had acne so severe my face is permanently scarred)
6 i am familiar with the (family history of atopy) part of the traditional explanation of asthma inheritance, so although my father had both ECZEMA and RHINITIS , yet my other brothers did not develop my condition inspite of sharing the same genes , even other first degree relatives only had a mild form during childhood that subsequently disappeared and are all healthy now . that's why i think the family history of allergy part is insufficient as an explanation .
i would like to know the opinions of people who have this same condition .
in the title , i stated that it's a theory by me because although this causal relation has been hinted at sometimes , there is no official accepted theory about it .
4 responses
@zburrou1 (289)
• United States
10 Jan 07
Hi. I am a psychology major. I also have had asthma since it can remember. I also know alot about asthma. since I have done alot of my own research over the years because I could never believe that what the doctors said where my only options. From reading your theory I also believe the asthma is cause by psychological and social factors. I now know what triggers my asthma attacks and flare ups.
Some of my psychological triggers are:
1. heights- when I am in a building wears there are alot of floors and I have to go past the 7th fllor in the building. And example is when I went to the state office building with my mom and we have to go to the 35 floor and in the elevator I started to lose it when my ears popped.
2. traffic- when I am stuck in traffic for more then an hour. I start to figit and I can't sit still. About 20 mins or more after the first hour is up I start to get very hot and my head starts to hurt very bad. Next thing I know my chest hurts and I grab for my inhaler.
3. small spaces- like tiny rooms or closets. I start to hyperventalate and completely lose my mind. I got locked it a closet as a joke when I was younger and passed out. Ever since then I hate small spaces.
Some of my social triggers are:
1. smoke- when my family bar-b-que's and they use alot of charcoal.
2. pollen- when I am outside in the summertime and it is to hot.
3. dust- like when I am cleaning the house and it is very dusty. Mainly when I am sweaping the floor.
I do agree with your theory. Since you have a medical background you should make something of your theory. See if there is something else to that. I have had asthma for 20 years and I believe that one day they will have a cure for asthma. Hopefully you will find that cure.
@serenae (161)
• United States
23 Jan 07
My son has asthma, and naturally I want to know any theory about it that I can. I do notice that when he gets really nervous that he starts coughing really bad. Now he also has reflux, and the doctors say that his asthma as some to do with that. He is a very shy boy, and when he trys to make friends he gets real nervous. Now his father has asthma also, but no one else in his family has asthma. I really think that you may be on to something. Thank you for your input.
@dm74728 (159)
• United States
17 Jan 07
I have asthma too and I have had it triggered by anxiety also. What is really depressing to me is that I love to laugh. I'm usually a happy person no what the sisuation but laughter also triggers the asthma. Pollen, mold, dust, animal hair. WOW, that IS depressing. My life is good just as long as I have my inhaler!! I have 6 siblings and 4 of us have asthma but neither of our parents had it. They suffered with allergies but never asthma, not even in childhood.
@Lilhawkins8 (16)
• United States
23 Jan 07
I don't have asthma, but my 16 yr old son does. He also has anxiety attacks and thinks that the two things are connected. He used to have to use his inhalers daily when he went to school, because it caused him so much anxiety. But since he's been learning at home for the last three years, his asthma and his anxiety attacks have been a lot less prevalent. Unless he gets a virus or cold, he only uses his preventives, not his rescue meds.