Can anxiety result in worse asthma control?

When I was a patient at National Jewish in 1985, it became clear that my anxiety was contributing to worse asthma control. While my asthma was never questioned, the experts there suggested that my anxiety might have led me to neglect self-care, even though I knew exactly what I needed to do to manage my condition.

I knew I should take my medicine every day as prescribed, yet I didn’t always comply. I also knew that I should use my rescue medicine no more than every 4-6 hours, but I often used it as a crutch. Instead of seeking help when I needed it, I relied on my inhaler until it was empty, sometimes waiting until I could barely breathe to reach out for help.

Looking back, I understand that this was a bad idea, but I did it anyway. The experts at the hospital suggested that my anxiety played a role in my actions. At the time, I couldn’t fully grasp the idea that my asthma could be influenced by my nerves. I thought it was a crazy notion, and many of the other patients at the hospital felt the same way.

However, in retrospect, I now see the merit in their argument. The counselors and psychologists I worked with at the hospital helped me develop coping strategies for managing my anxiety. Their support in addressing my anxiety played a significant role in helping me gain better asthma control.

By learning to manage my anxiety, I was able to take my medicine consistently, regardless of how I felt, and seek help when I needed it. This connection between anxiety and asthma control is well-established in research, and I believe it made a real difference in my asthma management.