In May 14, 2007, a study conducted by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health discovered an association between environmental exposures and asthma, a strong indication that women in highly stressful domestic violence relationships are prone to developing asthma. (www.myasthmacentral.com)
The volunteers for the study were asked not only if anyone in the household suffered from asthma, but also of their history of experiencing or witnessing domestic violence. Together with the data gathered by the Harvard researchers, they had included other factors associated with asthma, exposure to tobacco smoke, the level of education and income.
The study revealed that women who had experienced domestic violence in the past year had a 37 percent increased risk of asthma. The women who had not experienced domestic violence themselves but had lived in a household where some women had been beaten, there was a 21 percent increased risk of asthma than for women who did not live in violent households. As well, women living in a household where she experienced domestic violence also increased the risk of reported asthma in children and adult men.
Although the Harvard researchers could not conclude the association between domestic violence and asthma 100 percent, there is evidence of several mechanisms explaining a strong relationship between the two. Exposure to violence, and other psychological and social stressors in fact affect the immune system, and in turn that inflammation in the system plays a role in the development of asthma. And those exposed to violence may adopt certain coping behaviors that may predispose them to asthma, such as cigarette smoking.
This is the first study to examine the relationship between violence and asthma in India, where domestic violence is at high levels, and where the World Health Organization estimates 15-20 million asthmatics live. "Asthma is socially patterned with a higher prevalence among lower socio-economic groups, probably because of greater exposure to adverse environmental and social circumstances," Dr. S.V. Subramanian of the Harvard School of Public Health expressed.
Although the study had established the strong link of women in domestic violence relationships developing asthma, the Harvard researchers failed to conduct a study on how men who are in domestic violence relationships are affected with asthma. In all fairness, two separate studies would explain how men in abusive relationships are affected with asthma as well. However, the Harvard study ignored half the population. What was the scientific basis for the Harvard School of Public Health to exclude the battered men from its study on domestic violence and asthma, even though the study indicated that "asthma risk was also higher among the men living in violent households?"
Because men experience domestic violence with health impact, more research is needed to determine the best ways for doctors to ask men if they have experienced violence, and how best to help them into couple counseling, leaving their abusive partners or getting protection orders. (The National Domestic Violence Hotline is toll free 1-800-799-SAFE, www.sciencedaily.com for further information on how domestic violence affects men's health.)
The latest data from the Center for Disease Control had shown that in the United States alone and every year, approximately 1.5 million (six months ago) women and 800,000 men are raped or physically assaulted by a partner. However, there is no data available to establish how 14% of the men in abusive relationships (and who require medical attention) are affected with asthma. (http://www.aemj.org/cgi/content/abstract - The University of Pennsylvania emergency room.)
There is no doubt that if an unbiased scientific study were fairly conducted, medical researchers would discover that the same factors found in women in domestic violence environments apply to men with the same respiratory conditions as addressed by the Harvard School of Public Health.
REFERENCES
http://www.nfvlrc.org, http://www.hsph.harvard.edu, http://www.scienceblog.com, http://www.newsvine.com, www.psychcentral.com/news/2008/05/19/, www.health.usnews.com/usnews/health
The popular asthma drug, Singulair, may be linked to suicide. The FDA (May 15, 2008 - Bottom Line Publication) is investigating the "montelukast" drug because anecdotal accounts suggest an association between the drug and suicidal thoughts and behavior. The person taking this drug should be alert to changes in mood and/or behavior and report the chemical affects to their doctor perhaps to switch to another drug.
