The Connection Between Asthma and PTSD

Asthma andposttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD) are often linked. There are a number of different types of traumatic events that can lead to the development of PTSD, and one such type is the experience of a life-threatening illness, such as asthma.

Asthma is very common in the general population, and because of this, many people might think that asthma really isn't life-threatening. However, asthma is one of the most common childhood chronic illnesses, and it can have a tremendous negative impact on a child's life and may even result in death. In fact, asthma accounts for one-fourth of all emergency room visits in the United States per year and is the third-ranking cause of hospitalization for children.

Asthma attacks definitely meet criteria for a traumatic event according to the 4th edition of theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders。首先,哮喘发作可能危及生命或cause physical harm. In addition, the unexpected nature of an asthma attack, as well as the physical symptoms that accompany an asthma attack, may bring about feelings of fear, helpless, and horror. Given this, asthma can definitely be considered a potentially life-threatening illness that could lead to the development ofPTSD symptoms。

Asthma and PTSD Symptoms

Researchers found that adolescents who had a life-threatening asthma episode were more than twice as likely to meet criteria for PTSD as compared to adolescents without asthma. In a study, 20 percent of adolescents who had a life-threatening asthma episode was experiencing PTSD symptoms at a high enough level that they could be diagnosed with PTSD.

The parents of adolescents who had a life-threatening asthma episode were also showing signs of PTSD. Almost 30 percent of the parents of adolescents who had a life-threatening asthma episode met criteria for PTSD due to the asthma episode compared to only 2 percent of parents of adolescents without asthma.

Understanding Your Risk for PTSD

The high rates of PTSD symptoms found among adolescents and parents of adolescents with a life-threatening asthma episode are alarming. Study findings suggest the importance of teaching families to be aware of the potential psychological effect of experiencing a life-threatening asthma attack. This is particularly important when you consider that the experience of anxiety and stress that occur in PTSD may exacerbate chronic illnesses such as asthma.