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Article: Melatonin and nocturnal asthma.(SLEEP MEDICINE)
- Article from:
- FOCUS: Journal for Respiratory Care & Sleep Medicine
- Article date:
- September 22, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Focus Publications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Asthmatics have long noted that symptom severity varies daily and seasonally. Recent studies showing a connection between melatonin production and symptoms validate this observation. Asthma worsens at night when the daily production of melatonin is at its highest and improves during the day when melatonin levels fall. Seasonally, asthma is worst during the dark days of winter when melatonin production is high but improves with the long sunny days of summer when melatonin production is low. Whether melatonin exacerbates symptoms directly or indirectly is unclear.
Based on their results from a study at the National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver, ...