The airway obstruction characteristic of asthma leads to recurring episodes of several distinct symptoms. These include wheezing, a sensation of tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, and coughing. The coughing is often more pronounced during the morning and at night.

Symptoms of Asthma

Airway obstruction in asthma is the result of three primary physiological changes. First, the airway walls become inflamed and thickened. Second, the smooth muscles surrounding the airways tighten, constricting the passage. Finally, there is an overproduction of mucus, which further clogs the airways. The cumulative effect of these changes is a significantly narrowed airway, which restricts airflow and makes breathing difficult.

Physiological Changes Causing Airway Obstruction in Asthma

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), asthma is a significant cause of mortality in the United States. Annually, approximately 4,000 deaths are directly attributed to asthma, and the condition is also a contributing factor in an additional 7,000 deaths each year.

Asthma Mortality Statistics in the U.S.

Data from the CDC indicates that asthma is a widespread condition in the United States, affecting 18.7 million adults. Furthermore, the disease has shown a concerning upward trend, with its prevalence increasing by 157% between the years 2000 and 2010.

Asthma Prevalence and Trends in the U.S.

CDC findings have identified a correlation between socioeconomic status and asthma rates in the U.S. The disease is found to be more common among populations with lower income levels.

Socioeconomic Correlation of Asthma in the U.S.

There is a significant link between environmental conditions and the prevalence of asthma. Geographic areas with high levels of concentrated air pollution and poor air quality tend to exhibit correspondingly high rates of asthma and other respiratory illnesses among their populations.

Correlation Between Air Pollution and Asthma Rates

A patient is diagnosed with a chronic respiratory disease characterized by airway obstruction. The two primary physiological changes responsible for this obstruction are inflammation that thickens the airway walls and the tightening of muscles surrounding the airways. How do these two changes interact to cause the patient's symptoms?

Asthma is a chronic and serious respiratory disease characterized by the obstruction of airways, which makes it difficult to expel air from the lungs. This obstruction is a result of two primary factors: inflammation that causes the airway walls to thicken, and the tightening of muscles surrounding the airways, which leads to their narrowing. Consequently, individuals with asthma may experience recurring episodes of symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing, which often occurs more frequently in the morning and at night.

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Many diseases can be a significant stressors in an individual's life. This may include (but is not limited to the following):
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Asthma
- Headaches

Health-Related Stressors

Profoundly negative health consequences can arise when stress becomes extreme or chronic. This prolonged stress is a significant contributor to the onset and progression of various psychological disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder, as well as a wide range of physical illnesses and diseases.

Negative Health Consequences of Chronic and Extreme Stress

Psychophysiological disorders are physical diseases or conditions characterized by genuine physical symptoms. These symptoms are either initially caused or significantly worsened by stress and other emotional factors. The term itself highlights the interplay between psychological ('psycho') and physiological ('physiological') elements in these conditions.

Psychophysiological Disorders

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Cardiovascular disorders, which affect the heart and blood circulation system, are serious medical conditions that are central to the study of psychophysiological health. Extensive research has consistently demonstrated a strong link between these disorders and psychological factors, showing they are significantly influenced by stress and negative emotions like anger, negative affectivity, and depression.

Cardiovascular Disorders

Asthma

The immune system functions as the body's surveillance and defense network. It is composed of a complex array of structures, cells, and mechanisms designed to protect the body from invading microorganisms. A properly functioning immune system maintains health and prevents disease by identifying and eliminating harmful agents such as bacteria, viruses, and other foreign substances that could damage tissues and organs.

Immune System

Psychological disorders are broadly characterized as conditions involving abnormal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. More formally, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) defines a psychological disorder as a syndrome that includes a clinically significant disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior. This disturbance is understood to reflect a dysfunction in the underlying psychological, biological, or developmental processes of mental functioning and is typically associated with significant distress or impairment in important areas of life.

Psychological Disorders

Tension headaches are a common psychophysiological disorder characterized by a dull, aching pain often described as a tight band around the head. Stress and other emotional factors are known to be significant triggers that can either cause or worsen these headaches.

Tension Headaches

Based on a comprehensive statistical review of numerous studies, researchers Friedman and Booth-Kewley proposed the concept of disease-prone personality characteristics. This idea suggests that certain personality traits, such as depression, anger/hostility, and anxiety, may predispose individuals to developing physical illnesses.

Disease-Prone Personality

The well-documented link between social class and health outcomes can be partly explained by the concept of perceived control. Research indicates that more affluent individuals generally report better health, a phenomenon attributed to their stronger belief in their ability to manage life's stressors. This sense of control acts as a psychological resource that influences health behaviors and responses to stress.

Relationship Between Social Status, Stress, and Health

The immune system is a primary biological pathway through which psychological stress can lead to or worsen physical illness. An effective analogy illustrates this relationship: stress is not the direct cause of illness (the 'sword that kills the knight'), but rather the factor that weakens the body's defenses (the 'sword that breaks the knight's shield'), with the immune system acting as that shield.

The Immune System as a Mediator Between Stress and Illness

A pioneering 2004 study offered a biological explanation for the 'haggard' appearance often associated with stressed individuals, proposing that chronic stress can hasten the aging process at the cellular level.

Stress-Induced Acceleration of Cellular Aging

Research indicates a connection between exposure to stressful life events and the development of asthma throughout an individual's life. This link is particularly evident with stressors involving parental or interpersonal conflicts.

Link Between Interpersonal Stress and Asthma Development

Numerous studies have provided evidence that stress has a detrimental effect on the body's immune system, weakening its ability to function properly. This compromised immunity is a key mechanism by which stress and emotional factors can contribute to the onset or exacerbation of physical diseases, such as psychophysiological disorders.

Stress-Induced Immune System Weakening

- Cardiovascular
- Gastrointestinal
- Respiratory
- Musculoskeletal
- Skin

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