Is Obesity linked to Asthama?

 

Is Obesity linked to Asthma?

Obesity is a health condition that makes an individual fat or obese. Due to many factors-unhealthy eating lifestyle, lack of physical activity,  other medical conditions etc. Obesity is largely genetic but it can also happen due to many other factors. Asthma  or bronchial is a chronic respiratory condition constricts a patient’s airways making it difficult to breathe by producing excess mucus and inflammation. Both Obesity and Asthma are different conditions but is there any correlation between the two? Body Mass Index or BMI points out that having a BMI of 18-24.9 is normal but beyond 25 is considered overweight. Obese people i.e. having a BMI between 25-29.9 or 30 is considered very obese. These people are at a much higher risk of developing Asthma. One reason for this is the excessive fat deposits at the chest and abdomen might constrict the lungs; making it difficult to breathe. Fat tissues in the body often produce inflammatory substances that can affect the lungs and cause inflammation in the air tracts causing a person difficulty in inhaling air.   

Obesity in adults and children: Obesity is a major risk factor and a disease modifier for children and adults. Obese subjects have an increased risk of asthma such as more frequent and severe exacerbations as well as more reduced response to frequently used medications used to threat asthma. Obesity in the infancy stage can be linked to the mother’s excessive weight gain during pregnancy, inflammatory changes during the pregnancy stage and these changes explain why excessive weight gain during infancy has often been linked to asthma as well as wheezing cough. Another cause for Asthma in children is if the obese mother is a smoker. In this case the offspring can show symptoms of bronchial asthma between the ages of 31 to 46. Also, children who are hospitalized for asthma, obese children usually have a longer length of stay and recovery. Obese adults on the other hand have a 4-6 fold higher risk of being hospitalized rather than lean adults showing symptoms of the disease. It’s a medical fact to be noted that obese asthamatics do not respond as well to standard medications such as ICS as well as LABA. This impaired ICS response is caused mainly due to increased production of inflammatory cytokines in obesity which reduce induction of mitogen activated kinase phosphatase-1 by glucocorticoid, a signalling protein that plays an important role in steroid responses. So, we can clearly see that Obesity is not only an external factor but can also affect the body’s natural response to fighting the disease. Research has shown that height-adjusted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV) as well as forced vital capacity (FVC) were greater in children with higher weight and obesity.

Medication: The medication system for the treatment of asthma is a prolonged process of treatment for both children as well as adults. For children, these include Inhaled corticosteroids such as fluticasone, ciclesonide, budesonide, mometasone etc. Children need to use these medications for several days to weeks to get the full benefits. Combined inhalers may also prove beneficial in such a case.In the case of adults, Quick-relief inhalers(bronchodilators) quickly open swollen airways that otherwise restrict breathing. In adults and especially the older adults, some of them need allergy medications. Other non-medical treatments to deal with asthma in obese patients are regular exercise to reduce weight loss. Strict diet plan is strongly recommended. Exercise will reduce the excessive fat deposits around the respiratory area. Along with pharma, Ayurveda and Yoga are also great help for fighting Asthma.

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