Work Stress Linked to Higher Asthma Risk

People who regularly feel stressed out by their jobs may have a higher risk of developing asthma than those with a more-relaxed work atmosphere, a new study suggests. The new findings, published online April 27th in Allergy, are the first to show an association between work stress and later asthma risk, according to the researchers. The investigators found that among more than 5,100 adults they followed for nearly a decade, those who reported high job stress at the outset were twice as likely as those with low levels of work stress to develop asthma. . read more.

Asthma Improvements Do Not Persist When Long-Term Therapy Is Stopped

Findings published in the May Journal of Pediatrics suggest that improvements in asthma control and airway responsiveness achieved during long-term treatment with budesonide or nedocromil do not persist when treatment is discontinued. The Childhood Asthma Management Program (CAMP), a randomized trial comparing three treatments for mild to moderate asthma over 4.3 years, showed that budesonide and nedocromil improved asthma control compared to placebo. . read more.

Prenatal Exposure to Air Pollutants Is Linked to Early Wheeze

Prenatal exposure to air pollutants is associated with wheezing in infants and toddlers, researchers reported online April 27th in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. "The data support the hypothesis that the risk of respiratory symptoms in early childhood and possibly in later life may be programmed by environment hazards during the prenatal period when the respiratory system is completing its growth and maturation. . " . . read more.