The Asthma Gender Gap: Why Is Severe Asthma More Common in Women?

Adult women are nearly twice as likely to suffer from severe asthma as men. Studies indicate that this is likely due to a combination of factors, including hormonal changes, smaller airways, and a more robust immune response.

Our team of allergy, immunology, asthma, and rheumatology specialists at Allergy A.R.T.S. in Amarillo, Texas, is recognized for delivering state-of-the-art, personalized asthma care that helps you breathe easier now and in the future.

Here are some facts about the asthma gender gap and its implications for asthma care.

Understanding asthma basics

Asthma causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways, leading to symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Severity can range from mild occasional symptoms to life-threatening attacks.

Children, especially boys, are more likely to be diagnosed with asthma than adults. However, this trend reverses after puberty. By adulthood, women not only have higher rates of asthma but also experience more severe and less controlled symptoms.

What's driving the gender gap?

Part of managing asthma effectively is identifying your triggers to avoid them whenever possible.

Asthma doesn’t discriminate based on gender, but studies show asthma triggers can vary significantly based on hormones and biology.

Hormonal influences

Environmental pollutants, certain foods, airborne allergens, extreme temperature changes, and emotional stress are traditional asthma triggers.

Research also shows that female sex hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, appear to play a role in increased airway inflammation. For some women, asthma symptoms worsen at specific points in the menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, or around menopause.

Additionally, hormonal changes may increase airway hyperresponsiveness or affect how the immune system responds to triggers such as allergens and pollution. Conditions such as premenstrual asthma are now recognized in clinical practice.

Excess weight and metabolic factors

Women with asthma are more likely to be overweight or obese than their male counterparts, and obesity is a known risk factor for more severe asthma. Fat tissue can promote inflammation throughout the body, including in the lungs.

Furthermore, metabolic conditions like insulin resistance may also play a role in making asthma more challenging to manage.

Misdiagnosis

Asthma symptoms in women are sometimes mistaken for anxiety or dismissed as less serious. This may be linked to the fact that women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with anxiety.

Unfortunately, this can delay an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment and may contribute to severe asthma in women.

Environmental factors

Women may also face different environmental exposures, such as indoor allergens or household chemicals, that can affect their asthma control. Certain occupations with exposure to cleaning agents, hair products, or textiles are more female-dominated and have been linked to asthma.

What can be done?

The bottom line is that poorly managed asthma intensifies inflammation and symptoms, making it harder to control and increasing your risk of life-threatening complications.

Thus, our goal at Allergy A.R.T.S. is to effectively manage your asthma through treatment strategies tailored to your specific needs. That starts with a thorough evaluation and careful investigation of your personal triggers.

Our team then considers gender differences when developing a comprehensive plan that may include medications, allergy treatment, dietary changes, and hormone-sensitive strategies when necessary.

By acknowledging the unique challenges women face with severe asthma, we can move toward better diagnoses, more effective treatments, and ultimately, improved quality of life.

Schedule a visit today by calling the Allergy A.R.T.S. office.