On the contrary, reducing our stress levels is something that we should take very seriously, since chronic stress can affect the ways in which our brains functionin the present, and it may seriously alter our brain health in the years to come.
It makes sense that abused women would report worse health, given that people in stressful situations have higher levels of stress hormones, which interfere with immune function, Crawford said.
Dr Mrazek told BBC News Online that it was possible that the stress associated with parental problems caused chemical changes in the body that had an effect on the function of genes thought to be linked to the development of asthma.