Domestic Violence and Asthma Linked

A new study from researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health finds a strong association between domestic violence and asthma. Research was performed using a large nationally database of 92000 households in India, where domestic violence is highly prevalent. Respondents were asked if anyone in the household suffered from asthma, and also about a personal history of experiencing or witnessing domestic violence. The study found that women who have experienced domestic violence in the past year had a 37% increased risk of asthma. For women who had lived in a household where a woman had been beaten, there was a 21% increased risk of asthma. It is said that the exposure to violence and other stressors is known to affect the immune system and inflammation, which have a role in asthma development. This article caught my attention because I didn’t realize such a thing could aid in the development of this sort of health risk.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070501115040.htm