Obesity and Asthma Complications Grand Rapids MI

Did you know that being overweight can increase your risk of being hospitalized for asthma? This is especially true for women, although both sexes can experience the connection, which can be extremely dangerous-and sometimes fatal.

A Vicious Cycle

The reason why asthma and obesity co-exist isn't completely clear, but experts do know that the relationship can be a vicious cycle. Consider the fact that overweight people who suffer from asthma may find that their breathing problems make it difficult to exercise in order to get in better shape. Yet carrying the extra weight also causes further breathing challenges and can lead to a worsening of asthma symptoms, creating an unhealthy chain that can be difficult to break.

Possible Reasons

Some researchers suggest that the root of the problem may be traced back to several factors. Consider the following possibilities:

• People who are overweight seem have greater inflammation in their airways, which can lead to worsening asthma symptoms.
• Many overweight people don't seem to respond as well to asthma control medications as their counterparts who are of average weight.
• People who are obese can be at increased risk for developing sleep apnea, which irritates the bronchial tubes and makes them more inflamed. This can worsen asthma symptoms and lower activity level, making it difficult for such patients to lose weight.

Sex Differences

Just keep in mind that if you are a female asthmatic who is overweight, the experts believe that the odds are stacked even higher against you.  This is because females are more prone to experience asthma then men, while also suffering from more severe symptoms and more frequent occurrences. As a result, women have increased asthma hospitalization rates, and the numbers are higher among females who are overweight compared with their average weight counterparts...

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