Asthma is a chronic condition of the respiratory system which manifests a rapidly increasing prevalence in the developed world. Indeed, one in four urban children in modern developed societies is suffering from this disease, which involves an inflammation of the airways in response to a number of external triggers such as poor air quality, dust, tobacco smoke and many others.
Asthma is, of course, not restricted to children, and despite often being a lifelong disease, it is manageable with a combination of medication and careful management of the patient's environment.
A recent study conducted at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health in Baltimore has showed that in addition to all the problems that come with managing the asthma itself, people suffering from this disease and women in particular are predisposed to depression and even suicidal thoughts and attempts. This comes as a result of being forced to live with the thought of having a chronic condition that can often span a lifetime, combined with a series of other factors, such as living and working environment, stress and the overall quality of life. The team that conducted the study thus warns us that the psychological effects of asthma should not be treated lightly.
"Researchers have speculated that the relationship between asthma and suicidal behaviors is possibly because of ensuring mood and anxiety that results from disability and discomfort associated with asthma, which can be a lifelong disease", the study authors write in the May issue of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. "Individuals might have frequent thoughts of death with increasing severity solely because they have a potentially life-threatening illness." They advise people suffering from asthma to stay positive and demand that doctors who notice symptoms of depression in their patients refer them immediately to a psychologist.
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