Asthma is a health condition that we often assume impacts people regardless of sex or gender.
However, a new report from charity Asthma and Lung UK has revealed that women with asthma going through puberty, pregnancy or are menstruating, are at higher risk of severe asthma attacks.
The Asthma and Lung UK chief executive, Sarah Woolnough explained that understanding the role of how sex hormones impact asthma is important in helping millions of women suffering with the lung condition through more research and investment in treatment.
How does asthma affect women?
Three million women in the UK - out of 136 million women worldwide - suffer from asthma. According to ONS figures, deaths due to asthma are also worse among, with over 5,100 women dying from the condition over the past five years, compared to less than 2,300 men.
The report from Asthma and Lung UK has also revealed while hospital admission for asthma is equal for teen girls and boys, it becomes twice as likely that women aged 20-50 are hospitalised than men in that age group.
One asthmatic Poppy Hadkinson, 30, recalls having regular attacks after hitting puberty that couldn't be controlled by any traditional treatments such as inhalers, steroids or antibiotics.
Though her condition is under control now due to treatment at a specialist clinic, Hadkinson finds that her asthma still worsens around her periods.
The charity's research is hoping to draw attention to how men and women have different asthma triggers, as well as highlight the link between female hormones and more severe asthma flare-ups.
Mome Mukherjee, a researcher at the University of Edinburgh said: "There is not enough research into why women are more likely to be hospitalised and die from asthma and what treatments, new and existing, could help women."
Sarah Woolnough added: "When it comes to research funding, women with asthma have drawn the short straw. We urgently need to see more investment in research in this area so we can find new treatments and better use existing treatments to help millions of women and save lives."
What are common symptoms of asthma?
Asthma is a common lung condition, which can affect people of all ages and cause occasional breathing difficulties.
The most common symptoms of asthma include:
- Whistling sound when breathing (wheezing)
- Breathlessness
- Tight chest, which may feel like a band is tightening around it
- Coughing
For more information and guidance on asthma, visit the NHS website.
