Dr. Mercola September 15 2005 1,243 views
Simply hearing words like "wheeze" can cause asthmatics to experience more severe asthma symptoms, according to a study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin.
Study Reveals Specific Parts of Brain Involved
The study shows a link between two brain regions and the physiological processes of asthma. Previous studies have shown that stress adversely affects people with inflammatory diseases like asthma. Inflammation has also been shown to affect the brain.
But this is the first study that makes a link showing the specific brain circuits involved in the connection between asthma and the emotions.
Emotional Reactions to Words
Researchers employed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to scan the brains of six asthmatics. They were asked to inhale ragweed or dust-mite extracts, and then shown three types of words:
Stressful Words Caused a More Severe Reaction
Shortly after, they were measured for lung function and inflammation. The scans revealed that the asthma-related terms caused responses in the anterior cingulate cortex and the insula, and this correlated strongly with more severe problems. The other types of words did not have the same effect.
The two brain structures transmit information about the condition of the body, but are also strongly connected with other brain structures that process emotional information.
Here we have yet more proof that negative emotions can affect your physical health for the worse. We've already seen evidence that depression can independently lead to insulin resistance and the high levels of blood glucose that result from it, and that stress can increase the long-term risks of heart disease, susceptibility to infection, and cause a host of other physiological problems.
Even the conservative Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that up to 90 percent of the doctor visits in the United States may be triggered by a stress-related illnes.
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