Depression

Depression and asthma

Everyone reacts differently to any illness or long-term condition and people can sometimes experience negative emotions relating to their asthma, such as anxiety, fear and embarrassment. If you do feel like this you are not alone - some studies suggest that depression is two to three times more common in people with chronic illnesses or long-term conditions.

Depression can also impact your asthma and your quality of life - for example, when you feel low your asthma gets worse because depression leaves you feeling tired and unmotivated to look after asthma properly. In turn, having to put up with asthma symptoms can make you more worried and depressed, and you may feel that your doctor or asthma nurse doesn't understand. But your doctor and nurse are there to help you.

Top tips for managing depression and asthma

When you're feeling depressed it's sometimes hard to keep in mind the things you need to do to keep healthy but paying attention to your health and well-being is really important. Look after yourself by following our suggestions below:

• Try not to smoke. If you're a smoker, you may notice that you smoke more when you feel depressed. This won't help either your asthma or depression and can make you feel more anxious and stressed.
• Eat well and eat regularly. A healthy balanced diet can keep your mood on an even keel. Try to avoid too much sugar, caffeine and alcohol which can affect your mood.
• Try to keep active. Exercise actually releases endorphins which are chemicals in the brain that promote a happy mood. Check out our exercising top tips to get you started.
• Talk about how you feel. Talking about how you feel is really important in tackling depression. Find out more about ways you can talk to someone here.
• Try relaxation techniques. Some studies have shown that breathing training and relaxation taught by a physiotherapist can reduce asthma symptoms and improve quality of life. These exercises work by promoting general relaxation and lessening some of the physical tension that builds up from ongoing stress and depression.
• Try to keep up with hobbies or activities that you enjoy. This will help you to feel good about yourself, whilst also taking your mind off any negative thoughts or worries.

The most important thing to remember is that depression is not an easy thing, but taking one day at a time and keeping an open mind about the support available to you can eventually lead to a better outlook.

You can find out lots more about depression, its impact on your asthma, and the things you can do to help by downloading our factfile.