Asthma reactions like wheezing, cough and shortness of breath, among others could most likely be regulated by the body clock and new researches are finding better evidence to prove this. This knowledge could help doctors manage asthma symptoms better. 

A new study carried out by Dr Hannah Durrington of Manchester University to explore the reasons why asthma reactions seem to exacerbate during the night and the early hours of the day, found that the levels of white blood cell eosinophils in blood or phlegm change naturally over the course of a day. Since doctors assess the severity of asthma in a patient by measuring these levels, they would get a more accurate picture of a person’s asthma if the appointments are timed around these variations. This could in turn help doctors determine whether there’s an optimum time of day to use inhalers and other medication in order to keep symptoms under control.

The researcher carried out several investigations and found that the tests of lung function, such as peak flow rate – which ­measures airflow out of the lungs – were lower at 4 am compared to 4 pm. Highlighting the importance of these findings, Dr Durrington said that it could be used to ascertain an optimum time for inhaling as well as for doctor’s appointments for a more accurate diagnosis.