Breathless in the city?

Asthma may occur due to environmental and genetic factors. Other triggers could be cold weather and pollutants.
Modern life is full of hassles, deadlines, frustrations and demands. For many people, stress is so normal that unfortunately it’s become a way of life. Stress isn’t always bad. In small doses, it can help you perform under pressure and motivate you to do your best.But when you’re constantly running in an emergency mode, your mind and body pay the price. A heavy one, that, too.
If you frequently find yourself feeling frazzled and overwhelmed at work, it’s time to take action and bring your
nervous system back into balance. Research suggests that having a stressful job can increase the risk of developing asthma by 40 per cent. For the first time, studies reveal that work pressure can actually make someone become an asthmatic.
General physician Dr Parul Sheth agrees saying, “It is known that living in urban areas, especially where there’s a lot of air pollution, does increase the chances of developing asthma. And stress is a common asthma trigger.
Stress and anxiety sometimes can make you feel short of breath and if you already have asthma it may cause your symptoms to become worse.” Pressure at work causes stress, which in turn can give you an array of health issues including gastric disorders. “Manage your stress levels well. Identify the cause for your stress and find solutions.
Do not panic, practice effective time management and avoid the triggers if possible. Exercise is a good way to burn off stress. You can try relaxation and deep-breathing exercises. Eat nutritious food and sleep well,” she suggests. Interventional cardiologist Dr Hasmukh Ravat says that there is most definitely a link between stress and asthma, “Stress is the cause for various health hazards and there has been an increase in heart diseases especially amongst youngsters in urban areas due to the excessive work pressure.
Other than that, asthma is also greatly exaggerated,” he says. His suggestion is to take time off work just to relax or maybe take a holiday.
Chest physician Dr Rashid Vasi is not in complete agreement with this research. “Asthma cannot come about just because of work pressure, but the symptom of a mild asthmatic can be greatly aggravated by work pressure. Any sort of mental pressure affects the entire body,” he opines.
Ways to manage work stress
- Take more breaks from your work. Even a five-minute break will help. Get away from your desk. Go for a walk outside if you can.
- Lighten up! Laughter is known to reduce stress. You’ll be amazed at how much more pleasant the people around you are when you make an effort to be pleasant yourself.
- Fix your environment. Make whatever adjustments you need to the lighting, temperature, noise level and other
controllable factors in your office.
- Get more sleep. In addition to reducing your stress, it will increase your energy levels and your ability to
concentrate.
- Spend more time with optimistic people. Negative people will pull you down to their level.
What is asthma?
An asthma attack causes the bronchial tubes or airways in your lungs to become inflamed and constricted. The muscles of the bronchial walls tighten and the bronchial tubes produce extra mucus, which then block your airways. Asthma may occur because of environmental and genetic factors. Exposure to various allergens and irritants can also trigger it. Some other triggers include cold weather, pollutants and dust.
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