Neurosis and asthma

People who are neurotic are at greater risk of developing asthma. Neurotic people tend to be more pessimistic, worry more and have more emotional ups and downs than other people. Researchers from Heidelberg University studied 5,114 people aged between 40 and 65 examining the links between neuroticism, stressful life events and asthma. Around 2% of the people who were free of asthma at the start of the study developed it during the eight-year follow up period. People who were highly neurotic were three times more likely to develop asthma than others. Divorce or separation increased the risk of asthma in women but not in men. Unemployment and the death of a loved one were not significantly associated with the development of asthma.

You can find out more about this research at

http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE59L57Q20091022?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews&pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0