Living with T2 Inflammation
Type 2 inflammatory diseases significantly impact quality of life, resulting in a variety of physical, emotional, and social challenges. The worse your disease, the worse your quality of life. The reasons go beyond the actual physical symptoms of the condition itself and include:1
- Unpredictability. More than half (56%) of people with type 2 inflammatory conditions say they are “often or always” in a state of alertness to disease triggers, making it difficult to plan activities or maintain a normal routine. This creates a “stress-inflammation” cycle in which the stress leads to more inflammation which, in turn, worsens mental health, creating a vicious cycle.2
- Mental health effects. Type 2 inflammatory diseases are associated with high levels of anxiety and depression.3
- Sleep disturbances. Uncontrolled symptoms can make it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep, leading to fatigue and affecting how well you function during the day.3
- Work and school disruptions. The unpredictability of symptoms and their impact leads to missed work or school days. affecting productivity and potentially limiting career or educational opportunities.3
- Social isolation. Feelings of embarrassment and misunderstanding can make people with type 2 inflammatory diseases feel alone and isolated.3
- Limited activities. Many everyday tasks, including sports, chores, hobbies, and social activities become difficult or impossible due to uncontrolled symptoms. In fact, 39% of people with T2I diseases say the effects of their medication alone, as well as their disease, often or very often interfere with their daily activities.3
The good news is that studies find that with the right treatment, quality of life can significantly improve!4
References
- Gómez de la Fuente E, Alobid I, Ojanguren I, et al. Addressing the unmet needs in patients with type 2 inflammatory diseases: When quality of life can make a difference. Front Allergy. 2023;4:1296894.
- Beurel E, Toups M, Nemeroff CB. The bidirectional relationship of depression and inflammation: Double trouble. Neuron. 2020;107:234-256.
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. What is Type 2 Inflammation? Accessed February 5, 2025. https://aafa.org/programs/collaborations/type-2-inflammation/
- Spergel JM, Chehade M, Dellon ES, et al. Dupilumab improves health-related quality of life and a range of symptoms in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2024;119:2398-2407.
