Stress is linked to numerous problems, including heart disease risk and depression..

In pregnant women, the list of these problems is much longer, because stress is a threat to the child: the likelihood of preterm birth, low birth weight, developmental disorders increases..

Now scientists have found that stress during pregnancy is associated with asthma in children..

You can read more about the results of this scientific work in the American Journal of Physiology..

It is well known that emotional well-being during pregnancy is important for the health of mother and child.. Not so long ago, the medical publication Medical News Today reported that yoga during pregnancy can prevent anxiety and postpartum depression in the mother..

And if we talk about reproductive function in general, then it is no secret to anyone that chronic stress can cause infertility..

In their latest study, researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston found that stress in pregnant mice was associated with an increased risk of asthma in pups..

Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in children, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.. In 2010, 1 in 12 adults and 1 in 11 children in America had asthma.. In addition, 3,388 deaths were recorded in 2009 as a result of this disease..

Because asthma is a common, costly, and potentially dangerous disease, asthma prevention is a very important public health goal..

Stress hormones cross the placenta.

The researchers write that glucocorticoids (GCS) are natural stress hormones that are produced by the adrenal cortex and help control inflammatory responses.. Their synthetic counterparts, such as prednisone, dexamethasone, and hydrocortisone, are often prescribed to treat allergic and inflammatory conditions..

A few facts about childhood asthma in the US:.

•Asthma costs America $56 billion every year.

•In 2009, the median annual cost of treating a child with asthma was $1,039.

•In 2008, asthma was the cause of 10.5 million missed days at school.

When glucocorticoids are released by the body in response to stress, it is accompanied by the development of inflammation and increased sensitivity to environmental allergens..

In pregnant women, the level of glucocorticoids is normally elevated, and at the same time, the risk of allergic reactions is increased.. To further explore this issue, the team conducted a series of experiments on laboratory mice, analyzing the association of GCS with the risk of asthma in the offspring..

One group of pregnant mice were exposed to stress while another group of animals were given dexamethasone to mimic the effects of stress.. A third group of rodents were given the steroid inhibitor metyrapone, which blocks the effects of the stress hormone.. The fourth group was a control group that did not receive any drugs and was not exposed to stress..

Scientists found that high levels of the stress hormone corticosterone (CORT) in mothers led to the passage of this substance through the placental barrier and an increase in the level of CORT in the fetus.. This may explain the increased risk of asthma and allergies.

After birth, researchers exposed all pups to allergens. Commenting on the results, the scientists said: “Only the offspring of stressed mice showed a high propensity for asthma.. We also concluded that even a single episode of stress significantly increases maternal glucocorticoid levels.”.

Study Limitations.

This study has some limitations.. First, the team used an analogue of the natural glucocorticoid dexamethasone, rather than a natural hormone that differs somewhat in structure and potency..

In particular, dexamethasone has several times more potent effects and, unlike CORT, crosses the placental barrier unchanged.. The researchers acknowledge that because of this difference, the use of dexamethasone in the experiments could not fully mimic the effects of CORT..

In addition, the team notes that their model does not allow differentiation between prenatal and postnatal effects of maternal stress, and this may also impose certain limitations.. For example, stress affects maternal behavior and lactation, which can lead to changes in the newborn's immune system..

Be that as it may, the researchers are confident that "

And a few more words about harmful influences. Western medical publications reported this summer that after the introduction of anti-tobacco laws in parts of the United States, the incidence of preterm birth and asthma in children has noticeably decreased.. All you have to do is want it, and one of the biggest health problems can be solved?

medbe. en.