 The
negative effects of stress can definitely harm a child's mental
and physical health. According to a study, stress caused by threatening,
upsetting or unsettling life events could quadruple a child's
risk of asthma attacks.
Such stressful events include:
- Moving
- Births/deaths
- Departures
- Illness/hospital visits
- Separations
- Changes in family relationships
During the study, 60 children (ages 6-13) who suffered from asthma
for at least three years were analyzed. Throughout the study's
18-month time span, the children were advised to keep a diary and
record any acute asthma attacks and their breath strength (peak
flow). The children received check-ups every three months and their
parents were questioned about potentially stressful events occurring
during the corresponding time period.
Results of the study showed that the traumatic events were associated
with spells of acute asthma.
It was concluded that both immediate and delayed effects on asthma
symptoms were most likely due to various physiological and immune
processes. Further, the increased risk of asthma attacks was also
linked to inflammatory and airway responses triggered by the nervous
system's response to stress.
Yahoo!
News November 24, 2004
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