United States: A new study reveals that stress levels increase the severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) symptoms for patients.
Research in the Journal of the COPD Foundation documented a quadrupled risk for moderate or severe COPD flare-ups among patients who reported high stress levels, as reported by HealthDay.
Small Study, Big Implications
“There is increased evidence that psychosocial factors, including perceived stress, are associated with worsened respiratory symptoms for people with COPD,” lead researcher Dr. Obiageli Lynda Offor, a pulmonary and critical care fellow at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, said in a news release.
The research team monitored 99 patients who had quit smoking with COPD throughout a six-month timeframe to study their self-reported stress levels relative to their exacerbation frequency.
Understanding COPD and Its Impact
COPD functions as an inflammatory lung disease that encompasses two main conditions known as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. The disease presently impacts 30 million people nationwide and serves as the fourth-biggest cause of worldwide mortality, according to researchers who provided background details.
According to the COPD Foundation, exacerbations in COPD patients lead to deteriorating breathing symptoms ranging from worsening coughing to breathlessness and increased production of mucus. These severe episodes force patients to seek emergency room care or require hospital stays that last more than three days.
Biological Links Between Stress and Lung Function
Higher levels of stress stan current research show both elevated risks of episodes and link to biological processes that affect COPD development. Researchers connected higher stress levels with increased platelet activation, oxidative stress, and systemic inflammation markers.
Those processes, “which may lead to cell and tissue damage, are also impacted by increased perceived stress, Offor said, as reported by HealthDay.
Call for Broader Research and Patient Support
The study findings emphasize the requirement for extensive research with increased numbers of COPD patients, according to researchers.
“While our study examined a small group of patients, our results demonstrate the need for further research on how perceived stress impacts respiratory health and the importance of addressing psychosocial factors to help improve people’s quality of life,” Offor said.