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Asthma Risk in Women Going Through Menopause

Asthma risk has been shown to increase in women going through menopause. Asthma is a chronic condition that affects your airway. Studies have shown that women going through menopause are at double risk for developing asthma.

  1. Cause

    • The cause of asthma in women going through menopause has been linked to a decrease of estrogen in their bodies. The decrease in estrogen increases insulin resistance which in turn decreases lung disease.

    Risk and Body Weight

    • Women ages 45-56 going through menopause have increase risk for asthma if they are thin or obese. Estrogen is produced in body fat, and thinner women have less fat while obese women have an insulin resistance present due to obesity.

    Optimal Size

    • A body mass index between 23 and 28 is the optimal size for women to prevent asthma during menopause. Women with BMIs less than 23 or over 28 are at higher risk for asthma.

    Possible Errors

    • Two possible errors with asthma being related to menopause were women claiming allergies as respiratory problems and women who smoked already having lung problems.

    Prevention/Solution

    • The studies concluded that women who take hormone replacement therapy may avoid asthma problems.

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