Women who start menstruating early are at a high risk of developing asthma and poor lung function.
Hormonal and metabolic status appears to influence lung health in women, and there are findings suggesting that early menarche (first menstrual cycle) may be related to asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and breast cancer. Being overweight and obese also have been linked to earlier puberty, and may promote inflammation, a key factor in asthma.
To investigate the association between early menstruation and respiratory function & asthma risk, , researchers followed 3,354 European women aged 27 to 57 years. Evaluation included lung function measurements, measurements of bronchial hyper reactivity and blood levels of IgE (a marker of allergy).
It was found that women having their first period at age 10 years or earlier nearly doubled asthma risk. Women with early periods were nearly three times having at least three symptoms of asthma (such as wheezing, shortness of breath, and being woken up by a cough) along with bronchial hyper-responsiveness - an exaggerated response to inhaling substances that cause the airways to constrict, which is a key symptom of asthma.
The study suggests that women with early menarche have lower lung function and more asthma risk in adulthood reaffirming the role of hormonal and metabolic factors in women's respiratory health.
Hormonal and metabolic status appears to influence lung health in women, and there are findings suggesting that early menarche (first menstrual cycle) may be related to asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and breast cancer. Being overweight and obese also have been linked to earlier puberty, and may promote inflammation, a key factor in asthma.
To investigate the association between early menstruation and respiratory function & asthma risk, , researchers followed 3,354 European women aged 27 to 57 years. Evaluation included lung function measurements, measurements of bronchial hyper reactivity and blood levels of IgE (a marker of allergy).
It was found that women having their first period at age 10 years or earlier nearly doubled asthma risk. Women with early periods were nearly three times having at least three symptoms of asthma (such as wheezing, shortness of breath, and being woken up by a cough) along with bronchial hyper-responsiveness - an exaggerated response to inhaling substances that cause the airways to constrict, which is a key symptom of asthma.
The study suggests that women with early menarche have lower lung function and more asthma risk in adulthood reaffirming the role of hormonal and metabolic factors in women's respiratory health.