Study links job insecurity to asthma

A new study has indicated a link between asthma and work related stress.

The researchers base their findings on just over 7000 working adults, who responded to the German Socio-Economic Panel Study-an annual representative survey of the German population-in 2009 and 2011, when questions about asthma were asked.

It was found that those who didn't feel their tenure was secure were less likely to be on permanent contracts and more likely to have been diagnosed with depression and for every 25 percent increase in the perceived threat of job loss, the risk of asthma rose by 24 percent.

The researchers added that their findings may also provide a possible explanation for the increased prevalence of respiratory symptoms during the recent economic crisis in the UK.