Karen Bowen Shares Her Struggle with Severe Asthma Triggered by Menopause After Undergoing a Hysterectomy in Staffordshire

For many women, menopause can bring a range of physical challenges, but one lesser-known issue is how it can trigger asthma.

This is something Karen Bowen, a 58-year-old skin clinic owner and mother, experienced firsthand.

After suffering from painful polycystic ovaries for over ten years, Karen was relieved when her doctors suggested a full hysterectomy.

However, what followed was a cascade of unexpected health problems, including severe asthma that would dramatically affect her life.

From Menopause to Severe Asthma

Karen had always struggled with asthma as a child, but after her hysterectomy, the severity of her symptoms escalated.

Within months, she was suffering from intense asthma attacks that would leave her gasping for breath and requiring emergency hospital treatment.

“It felt like someone was sitting on my chest,” she recalls.

“I couldn’t walk or talk in sentences because I was taking gulps of air.” Her blood pressure and heart rate spiked as her heart worked overtime to help her breathe, and at one point, Karen feared she was going to die.

Initially, doctors assumed this was just a recurrence of her childhood asthma, and standard inhalers were prescribed.

But these did little to help, and it wasn’t until 2021—15 years after her surgery—that she was finally diagnosed with severe asthma triggered by her rapid transition into menopause.

How Menopause Triggers Adult-Onset Asthma

Though asthma is commonly associated with childhood, recent research reveals that menopause can trigger asthma in women who have never had it before.

Experts are particularly concerned that many women may not recognize the symptoms or be given the proper treatment.

Asthma that develops in adulthood is often harder to treat, and even some healthcare providers may not be aware of the hormonal link to the condition.

Erika Kennington, head of research and innovation at Asthma & Lung UK, highlights the lack of awareness around the relationship between asthma and hormones, saying it could lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment for older women.

Research published in the Menopause journal shows that the peak age for adult-onset asthma is between 50 and 54, reflecting a growing issue for postmenopausal women.

The Hormonal Influence on Asthma

Doctors have found that low levels of estrogen, the hormone primarily produced by the ovaries, may contribute to increased inflammation, a key factor in asthma.

With menopause leading to a decrease in estrogen, the inflammation can worsen, which in turn may trigger asthma.

Some studies have also pointed to hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which contains synthetic estrogen, as a factor that could increase the risk of asthma.

However, some researchers believe that the influence of “male hormones,” such as testosterone, may also play a role in increasing inflammation in the airways after menopause

. This hormonal imbalance might explain why some menopausal women develop asthma, as they have less estrogen to counterbalance the effects of testosterone.

Raising Awareness and Getting the Right Treatment

Karen’s experience with asthma treatment was frustrating.

Despite her worsening symptoms, her doctors initially misdiagnosed her condition as a recurrence of childhood asthma.

It wasn’t until she was referred to a specialist center in 2021 that her severe asthma was correctly diagnosed, and she started receiving appropriate treatment, including biologic injections.

While the biologic medication has helped reduce the frequency of her attacks, Karen’s struggle is far from over, as she was hospitalized again in 2023.

This delayed diagnosis is unfortunately not unique.

As Dr. Pujan Patel, a respiratory clinician, explains, adult-onset asthma is often triggered by menopause or surgical menopause (such as after a hysterectomy), but many women and even some healthcare providers are unaware of this connection.

Karen now advocates for more awareness about the link between asthma and menopause, stressing that there could be many women out there who are suffering without realizing it’s asthma.

“It’s so important that there’s more awareness of this connection,” Karen says.

“There could be women out there who have respiratory symptoms and might not even know it’s asthma.”

Conclusion: The Importance of Monitoring Symptoms

Given the growing evidence linking menopause with asthma, it’s essential for women to monitor their respiratory symptoms, especially if they’ve recently entered menopause or started hormone replacement therapy.

Dr. Viki Male suggests that women keep a symptom diary and pay attention to any changes, as this can help ensure that doctors don’t dismiss respiratory issues related to menopause.

As Karen’s story highlights, timely diagnosis and proper treatment are crucial.

Women who develop asthma around menopause may require specialized medications, and it’s vital that healthcare professionals are aware of this link to provide the best possible care.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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