Treating Asthma in Women
August 08, 2022
After puberty, asthma is 40 percent more common in women than in men.
According to Albert J. Polito, M.D., Chief, Division of Pulmonary Medicine and Medical Director for The Lung Center at Mercy, one reason may be women's airways are smaller than men's are.
With asthma, the airway tightens making it hard to breath. Hormones may also play a role.
"The hormonal differences are interesting because we know that, in women, often times, there's a cyclical nature with their periods, and often times, we will tell patients to track it, see what times of the month this tends to happen. More often than not, if it's going to follow the menstrual cycle, it happens to be right before the period is about to happen," Dr. Polito said.
Dr. Polito added that taking medicines on a regular basis to treat asthma is a good way to treat the condition.
About Mercy
Founded in 1874 in Downtown Baltimore by the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Medical Center is a 183-licensed bed, acute care, university-affiliated teaching hospital. Mercy has been recognized as a high-performing Maryland hospital (U.S. News & World Report); has achieved an overall 5-Star quality, safety, and patient experience rating (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services); is A-rated for Hospital Safety (Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade); and is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Magnet™ hospital. Mercy Health Services is a not-for-profit health system and the parent company of Mercy Medical Center and Mercy Personal Physicians.
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