As an allergy doctor, I see how emotionally exhausting allergies can be! Not just for patients, but for family members – especially parents of children with allergies. The constant worry, reading labels, fear of reactions, anxiety around school, parties, restaurants, travelling. It can become overwhelming and the fear of the unknowns can seem like a minefield.
When we talk about allergies, we often focus on the physical symptoms, but it’s just as important to consider how allergies can affect people emotionally and the toll it can take on your mental health.
Constant planning, fear of reactions, avoiding social situations, and even the worry of using an adrenaline auto-injector can be a lot for allergy sufferers and their families to think about.
In fact, recent research by the World Allergy Organisation found that 67% of people living with food allergies reported mental health concerns.
Research shows that people living with allergies can experience higher rates of anxiety, depression, and chronic stress. And honestly, many people feel isolated carrying that weight of responsibility every single day.
If you know a family living with allergies, a little understanding and kindness really can go a long way.
A large umbrella review (systematic review) published in March 2024 showed further evidence of links between allergic disease and mental health. The study explored the links between allergic diseases and mental health, examining data from 21 studies with more than 348 million people, making it one of the largest pieces of evidence to date.
The findings were striking:
→Asthma was linked to a 34% higher risk of ADHD
→Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) was associated with sleep disorders and tic disorders
→Food allergy showed an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder
→Atopic dermatitis (eczema) was linked to depression, anxiety, ADHD, and even suicidal ideation
→Asthma and Allergic disease were associated with depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts or attempts.
The link between gut health, inflammation and mental wellbeing
Recent research showed an association between the decrease or absence of anti-inflammatory bacteria and the increase in some psychiatric disorders. This was associated with an increase in pro-inflammatory bacteria.
And what are the bacteria involved?
The anti-inflammatory bacteria (good):
- Faecalibacterium
- Coprococcus
The pro-inflammatory bacteria (bad):
- Eggerthella
They believe this relates to the low production of Butyrate by the absent bacteria, which leads to an anti-inflammatory effect, mainly in the bowel.
The name Butyrate comes from the Latin Butyrum, which means butter.
But please don’t go and start eating it by the bucket load, as this is not the best way to increase Butyrate in your system!
Take this research with caution, as the study did not take into account individual variables, so there is more work to do to prove this link. The important takeaway is that there is some emerging evidence that might lead to a better understanding of the connection between gut health, allergies and mental health.
These results don’t mean everyone with allergies will experience these conditions, but they do show a clear increased risk. This is why I often emphasise the importance of psychological support for patients with allergies and asthma.
If you are struggling, please be sure to talk to someone you trust, ask for support and make the time to take care of your mental health alongside your physical health. Reach out to a qualified psychologist experienced in allergy and asthma.
That’s why psychological support should be part of allergy care. Managing symptoms is vital, but so is recognising the mental health impact.
Reference: Umbrella review on allergic diseases and mental health conditions. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, March 2024.
https://www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749(24)01174-6/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email
Reductions in anti-inflammatory gut bacteria are associated with depression in a sample of young adults
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7415740
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