Poor sleep could make you more likely to develop asthma, study finds

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Poor quality and quantity of sleep can put you at increased risk of developing asthmaaccording to a new study.

Previous research has already shown that asthma tends to lead to sleep problems, but the researchers wanted to know if the association worked the other way, i.e. if the way someone slept had an impact on his likelihood of developing asthma. the study, published on Monday in the journal BMJ Open Respiratory Research.

“We have always known that there is an association between asthma and sleep, but most of the work has been done on the presence of obstructive sleep apnea,” said pediatric allergist Dr Amal Assa’ad, associate director of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. She did not participate in the last study.

To investigate, the researchers looked at data from a cohort from 2006 to 2010 with more than 450,000 people in the British Biobank, a large biomedical database and research resource that tracks long-term residents. Those studied were between the ages of 38 and 73, according to the report.

During a 10-year follow-up, nearly 18,000 people participating in the research were diagnosed with asthma, according to the study. Data analysis showed that people with both a genetic predisposition and poor sleep habits were twice as likely to develop asthma as people in a low-risk group.

Generally, having a genetic predisposition puts you at a 25 to 30 percent higher risk of developing asthma, said Dr. Juanita Mora, a Chicago-based allergist/immunologist and national spokesperson for the American Lung Association. . She did not participate in the research.

There is good news: Healthy sleep habits were found to be associated with a lower risk of asthma, regardless of genetic susceptibility, according to the study.

People with high-risk genes and good sleep habits had a slightly lower risk of developing asthma than people with low genetic risk and poor sleep habits, the authors added.

By monitoring and treating sleep conditions, healthcare professionals could also mitigate the development of asthma, the study authors wrote. If sleep traits were improved, 19% of asthma cases could be prevented, according to the research.

The finding also points to a greater need for doctors and nurses to talk to their asthma patients about their sleep patterns to see if their behavior makes symptoms worse, Mora added.

The key to understanding this study is understanding the interplay between genetics and behavior, Assa’ad said.

The researchers looked at all the small changes in DNA that can put a person at increased risk of developing asthma, she added. These markers and the genetic risk become what is called a person’s polygenic risk score.

But most people don’t know their genetic score to know how likely they are to develop asthma and are only aware of the severity of their symptoms, Assa’ad said.

What people can do is track their triggers and aggravators — of which sleep appears to be one of many — to achieve optimal asthma control, Mora said.

The findings may underscore the importance of good sleep hygiene for everyone, regardless of asthma genetics, she added.

According to the study, inflammation could explain why sleep is so important for managing or preventing asthma.

Asthma is generally considered a chronic inflammatory disease, according to the study. Previous research has shown that problems with sleep duration and insomnia are associated with chronic inflammation.

Sleep disturbances are also associated with chronic activation of the stress response, parts of which are essential for the development of asthma, according to the study.

Adults need at least seven hours of sleep per night, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For many people this does not happen – 1 in 3 Americans has a sleep deficit, According to the CDC.

But it’s not just quantity you should focus on – quality matters too.

“Signs of poor sleep quality include not feeling rested even after getting enough sleep, waking up repeatedly during the night, and experiencing symptoms of sleep disorders (such as snoring or gasping),” the CDC said.

This is where good sleep hygiene (or habits) comes into play.

The CDC recommends consistently going to bed and waking up at the same time, keeping the bedroom comfortable and dark, and avoiding electronic devices before bed.

A comfortable room usually means a cool room – around 60 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit (15 to 20 degrees Celsius), according to a 2021 CNN story.

A routine to get you ready for sleep isn’t just for kids who need a bath and reservation before bed. Unwinding with familiar activities is a great way to signal to brains of all ages that it’s time to rest, pediatric sleep expert Ariel Williamson, a psychologist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, told CNN. earlier this year.

You should also avoid big meal, caffeine And alcohol too close to bedtime and be active during the day to sleep better.

If none of these changes improve your sleep, it might be time to see a doctor, experts say.