What Is a Circadian Rhythm?
Circadian rhythms can be thought of as a biological clock affecting certain physiological and biological processes taking at specific times of the day. In relation to asthma, this internal body process regulates patterns of hormone production, inflammation, cell receptors, and other biological activities that affect your asthma control.
Do Circadian Rhythms Affect My Asthma?
Your lung function is associated with a particular circadian pattern. Typically lung function is best in late afternoon (around 4 p.m.) and worst in the early morning (around 4 a.m.). Patients without asthma experience these changes, but the variation is not as significant as it is in asthmatics -- 5% in patients without asthma to as much as 50% or more in asthmatics.
Can I Do Anything If Circadian Rhythms Affect My Asthma?
You need to make sure you discuss your nighttime symptoms with your asthma care provider. Additionally, allergy symptoms are generally worse in the early morning. In order to decrease your nighttime symptoms and your early morning allergy symptoms, you and your asthma care provider might dose:
- Inhaled steroids late in the afternoon
- Allergy medications before going to bed
Source:
Elcio O. Vianna, PhDa, Luiz C. Boaventura, João Terra-Filh, Gilberto Y. Nakama, José A. B. Martinez, and Richard J. Martin. Morning-to-evening variation in exercise-induced bronchospasm Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Volume 110, Issue 2, August 2002, Pages 236-240.
