Anyone
with respiratory issues has heard about managing triggers, but this one
may be tougher…
“…We found large and
consistent changes in respiratory symptoms according to menstrual cycle phase,
and, in addition, these patterns varied according to body mass index (BMI),
asthma, and smoking status,” says lead study author Ferenc Macsali, MD, of
the Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, Norway.
A total of 3,926 women with regular cycles who were not taking exogenous sex hormones were enrolled in the study. Menstrual cycles, respiratory symptoms, BMI, asthma, and smoking status were determined by postal questionnaire.
Significant variations over the menstrual cycle were found for each symptom assessed in all subjects and subgroups.
Reported
wheezing was higher on cycle days 10-22, with a mid-cycle dip near the putative
time of ovulation (~days 14-16) in most subgroups.
Shortness of breath was
highest on days 7-21, with a dip just prior to mid-cycle in a number of
subgroups.
The incidence of cough was higher just after putative ovulation for
asthmatics, subjects with BMI ≥ 23kg/m2, and smokers, or just prior to
ovulation and the onset of menses in subgroups with a low incidence of symptoms.
“Our finding that respiratory symptoms vary according to the stage of the menstrual cycle is novel, as is our finding that these patterns vary according to BMI and smoking status,” said Dr. Mascali. “These relationships indicate a link between respiratory symptoms and hormonal changes through the menstrual cycle.”
The study had a few limitations, including the use of questionnaires to gather data and variation in the length of menstrual cycles in the study population, which may affect the accuracy of determining menstrual cycle stage.
“Our results point to the potential for individualizing therapy for respiratory diseases according to individual symptom patterns,” concluded Dr. Mascali. “Adjusting asthma medication, for example, according to a woman’s menstrual cycle might improve its efficacy and help reduce disability and the costs of care.”
“Our finding that respiratory symptoms vary according to the stage of the menstrual cycle is novel, as is our finding that these patterns vary according to BMI and smoking status,” said Dr. Mascali. “These relationships indicate a link between respiratory symptoms and hormonal changes through the menstrual cycle.”
The study had a few limitations, including the use of questionnaires to gather data and variation in the length of menstrual cycles in the study population, which may affect the accuracy of determining menstrual cycle stage.
“Our results point to the potential for individualizing therapy for respiratory diseases according to individual symptom patterns,” concluded Dr. Mascali. “Adjusting asthma medication, for example, according to a woman’s menstrual cycle might improve its efficacy and help reduce disability and the costs of care.”
The findings of the study were published online ahead of print publication in the American
Thoracic Society’s American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
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