Have A Good Night’s Sleep To Cut Asthma Risk

Poor sleep habits are linked with broad health concerns, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disorder, cognitive dysfunctions, and hypertension. Recently, a new large-scale study has shown that poor sleep patterns may bolster genetic susceptibility to asthma, potentially doubling the risk of being diagnosed with the condition. 

The findings published in the journal BMJ Open Respiratory Research have shown a “bidirectional” link between sleep and asthma, indicating that sleep problems can be a sign that a new asthma diagnosis is likely. 

Related article: Can Your Smartwatch Help You Manage Asthma Better? 

Sleep Deprivation is Another Possible Cause of Asthma

Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children which affects more than 250 million people globally. So far, there is no direct cause of asthma identified, showing that asthma may be a complicated condition resulting from various factors.

In the current study, the research team from Shandong University in China used data from the UK Biobank study to examine 455,405 people aged 38 to 73. They developed a model of risk and sleep traits and followed participants for over a decade. 

The study described a healthy sleep pattern as being more of a morning person, sleeping for seven to nine hours a night, never having insomnia or experiencing it rarely, no snoring, and no frequent sleepiness during the day. 

Over the follow-up period, 17,836 people were diagnosed with asthma. Compared with those at low genetic risk, those with the highest genetic risk were 47% more likely to be diagnosed with asthma, while those with a poor sleep pattern were 55% more likely.  People at high genetic risk who also reported poor sleep patterns were more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with asthma as those with a healthy sleep pattern and a low genetic risk.   

Also, a healthy sleep pattern decreased the risk of asthma by 44% in those at low genetic risk, 41% in those at intermediate risk, and 37% in those with high genetic risk.

New Preventive Measures Suggested

The underlying mechanism is hypothesized as sleep deprivation can lead to inflammation in the airways, which can trigger asthma symptoms such as wheezing and coughing. In addition, lack of sleep can weaken the immune system, making it more susceptible to respiratory infections that can exacerbate asthma symptoms. Stress and anxiety may further worsen asthma symptoms. 

All in all, the scientists are confident that a healthy sleep pattern could be beneficial to asthma prevention regardless of genetic conditions, making early detection and management of sleep disorders another effective approach to reducing asthma incidence.

Author

Nai Ye Yeat