Menstrual cycle hormones worsen asthma symptoms

New study's findings could help women with asthma better manage their condition.

By

Melissa Breyer

Mon, Nov 12 2012 at 2:08 PM

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Asthma and Allergies

Photo: Kati Neudert/

Almost 25 million Americans suffer from asthma, and every year more than 3,300 die from the condition that causes inflammation in the airways. There are a handful of known asthma triggers — dust, animals, pollen and stress for example — but recent research is revealing a more intrinsic trigger: Hormonal changes during a woman’s menstrual cycle.

The new study, led by Haukeland University Hospital in Norway, conducted research including nearly 4,000 women and found specific correlations between symptoms and the menstrual calendar. Respiratory symptoms were worse around the time of ovulation, with wheezing magnified between days 10 and 22 of the women's cycles. A slight dip near ovulation was observed. Days seven to 21 saw more severe shortness of breath, with the same slight dip near ovulation.

Symptoms also worsened for women who were overweight or smoked, regardless of an asthma diagnosis.

Dr. Ferenc Macsali of the study said, “Our results point to the potential for individualizing therapy for respiratory diseases according to individual symptom patterns. Adjusting asthma medication, for example, according to a woman’s menstrual cycle might improve its efficacy and help reduce disability and the costs of care.”

Dr. Samantha Walker of Asthma UK, concurs, saying, “This research is really interesting, and could help women with asthma to manage their condition better. Asthma can be triggered by many different things, and this varies from person to person — but we always encourage people with asthma to be aware of things that trigger their symptoms so that they can take steps to control them."

The study was published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

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Comment: 1

Gabit Mar 09 2013 at 5:13 AM

FYI from an asthmatic derset rat.We moved to Arizona 10yrs ago and I ass-sumed that I had left my asthma behind in the dampness of up- stat NY. WRONG.People forget that with the lower density of any given species in the dessert, more pollen must be produced per plant. To ensure their survival, they must produce even more pollen so can reach another plant. The sobol is a yucca type plant that has a 5 ft stalk topped with what is best described as a giant bottle brush (3ft in length and 7 in diameter)

.... More

covered for 3 ft with pollen laden stamen. Also, the plants have a stronger reaction to rain; many are dormant until their is rain. A little rain will make some bloom, and a lot of rain can make plant species grow and bloom that have been absent in abundance from the landscape a year or years. It is an awe inspiring sight to see the derset in bloom March-April. I have lived in up state NY, AZ and NM; each state had it's effect on my asthma. NY had mold, AZ had Sobol (yucca type plant) and NM has Juniper and high winds (20-30 mph) from March into June; kicking up everything in and along with the dust. During these high winds, any one with respiratory problems knows it. Also the Southwest has monsoons and wild fires (June-Aug). Because of the terrain and wind currents, the smoke from fires 20-30 miles away can come down like a blanket. Oh yes, we also have swamp or evaprative coolers in our houses which cool by soaking pads with water and forcing air over them and into the cooling ducts. This too can be a source of mold.I don't mean to burst your bubble but those who have not lived here are unaware of these things.

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