Exploring the psychological relationship to asthma and development of a mindfulness-based asthma management program

Asthma is a common condition characterized by reversible airflow obstruction, airway inflammation, and increased bronchial responsiveness to a variety of stimuli, ranging from allergens and other irritants to strong emotions (National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute, 1997). It is a heterogeneous disease, usually defined in terms of its chronicity and symptom severity. It is described by the history of respiratory symptoms such as wheeze, shortness of breath, chest tightness and cough that varies over time and in intensity, together with variable expiratory airflow limitation. Asthma affects 1-18% of population in different countries. The symptoms and airflow limitation resolve spontaneously or in response to medication (Global Initiative for Asthma, GINA 2018). Asthma has different phenotypes. Phenotypes refer to a recognizable pattern of characteristics such as demographical, clinical and patho-physiological. Major phenotypes are: 1. Allergic asthma: this phenotype has a childhood onset and usually presents with the history of allergic diseases. 2. Non allergic asthma: an independent cluster of asthma symptoms, not secondary to any allergies. 3. Late- onset asthma: it presents itself first time in adulthood and most frequently seen among women. 4. Asthma with fixed airflow limitations: it is a long standing asthma due to airway wall remodelling. 5. Asthma with obesity: asthma symptoms occur in association with obesity.