Asthma and anxiety are both chronic conditions that may have similar symptoms. But asthma involves inflammation and constriction of the airways, while anxiety causes excessive worries and fears.

Asthma and anxiety are two separate health conditions, but they can both occur simultaneously.

Some research suggests that 1 in 5 people with asthma experience anxiety symptoms or have an anxiety disorder. The prevalence of anxiety is also higher in people with asthma compared to the rest of the population.

If you’re living with asthma and anxiety, you might notice that some symptoms are similar.

For instance, anxiety may cause physical symptoms, such as breathing difficulties. On the other hand, if you have asthma, it’s possible to experience anxiety about your ability to breathe normally.

Keep reading to learn more about the symptoms of asthma and anxiety, including their key similarities and differences, and what you can do to help manage them both.

Asthma causes your airways (bronchial tubes) to become inflamed. If you encounter triggers, such as allergens or exercise, your airways may become even more inflamed, causing them to tighten and make breathing difficult.

Symptoms of asthma may include:

Asthma symptoms are often worse at night, causing you to wake up frequently. Medications for asthma may also cause insomnia.

Anxiety, on the other hand, is a mental health condition. Unlike occasional worries or fears, an anxiety disorder may cause a wide range of physical symptoms as well.

There are several types of anxiety disorders. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is the most common. With GAD, you may experience the following symptoms on most days for 6 months or longer:

If you have an anxiety (or panic) attack, it’s also possible to experience breathing difficulties. Panic disorders may also cause shortness of breath and choking sensations.

Below is a quick chart to help you determine the key similarities and differences between asthma and anxiety:

Shortness of breathWheezingCoughingChoking sensationsExcessive fears or worriesInsomnia and fatigueMuscle tension
Asthma✓✓✓✓
Anxiety✓✓✓✓✓

Is this an emergency?

Get emergency medical attention for an asthma attack if you experience severe breathing difficulties and aren’t seeing improvements soon after using your quick-relief inhaler.

Other symptoms that require immediate medical attention include:

  • bluish, gray, or pale skin and lips
  • severe cough that won’t go away
  • rapid breathing
  • significant shortness of breath
  • difficulty speaking in full sentences
  • pain or tightness in your chest
  • confusion

In many cases, panic attacks don’t warrant emergency medical attention.

That said, you should consider getting help right away if you’re experiencing thoughts about self-harm along with severe anxiety.

You may also consider calling 911 or local emergency services if your anxiety attack is accompanied by symptoms you haven’t experienced before, such as breathing trouble or severe hyperventilation.

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While asthma and anxiety are two separate conditions, it’s possible to have both at the same time. A flare-up of one condition may also exacerbate the other.

Can anxiety cause asthma?

Emotions like stress and anxiety are possible asthma triggers. These emotions can change your breathing patterns, with or without asthma, and you may start experiencing faster breathing or breathlessness.

If you do have asthma, any worries, fears, or anger that may be associated with an anxiety attack could trigger breathing problems.

Calming breathing techniques and anxiety treatments may help improve your asthma symptoms over time.

Can asthma cause anxiety?

Sometimes, asthma may worsen anxiety symptoms, especially if you have severe asthma that’s difficult to manage.

Severe asthma may significantly impact your quality of life. For instance, it may cause more anxiety over missing work, school, and regular activities. The unpredictability of asthma may lead to increased fears and worries over traveling too far from your home and medical equipment.

Additionally, research shows that some people living with asthma may experience limited coping strategies and unhelpful thinking patterns, which may induce anxiety symptoms.

Managing mild and moderate asthma may lead to better anxiety outcomes.

Without treatment, anxiety may lead to worse asthma management, and asthma may increase your symptoms of anxiety.

It’s important to recognize the differences, while also getting treatments that can help you manage each condition.

Asthma and anxiety treatments involve different medications. Depending on your own situation, you may need multiple treatments to help you manage your condition(s).

Asthma

Medical treatments for asthma may include:

A doctor may also recommend breathing exercises, such as diaphragmatic breathing and pursed lip breathing, to help improve overall lung function and subsequent asthma symptoms.

Regular exercise, rest, and a balanced diet may also improve anxiety-induced asthma.

»More on this:Treatments for asthma

Anxiety

Anxiety may be treated with a combination of:

Beta-blockers are sometimes used to help treat anxiety but should be used with caution in people who have asthma because they may cause bronchospasm and lead to asthma exacerbation.

Exercise may be particularly helpful for anxiety symptoms, but consider choosing activities that won’t exacerbate your asthma. Some of the best choices for exercise-induced asthma (EIA) include swimming, walking, and biking.

Support groups for asthma and anxiety

You may also consider connecting with others with asthma and/or anxiety for support. Below are resources that can help you get started:

Asthma and anxiety may share similar symptoms, such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, and insomnia. However, two characteristic symptoms of asthma are wheezing and coughing, which are unlikely in anxiety.

Chest tightness related to asthma will often be accompanied by wheezing and coughing. If it’s related to an anxiety attack, you may also experience a wide range of symptoms, such as rapid heart rate, dizziness, sweating, and breathlessness.

Anxiety has been associated with dysfunctional breathing patterns, such as hyperventilation. However, some breathing exercises and working with a healthcare professional could help improve breathing symptoms.

Using an inhaler is not recommended for anxiety. Limited research has examined its effectiveness and some inhalers may increase symptoms like nervousness, tachycardia, tremor, and palpitations, which could trigger an anxiety response.

Asthma and anxiety are two chronic conditions. It’s possible to have both conditions, with each one potentially exacerbating the other.

Understanding the key differences between both conditions could help you better manage them and know when to get treatment.

If you suspect you have asthma, anxiety, or both, consider speaking with a doctor about your symptoms. They could help develop a treatment plan to break the asthma-anxiety cycle.