Catching your breath after a workout couldn’t be more normal. But if this shortness of breath persists — or occurs at other times without straining — it may be a sign of a more serious mental disorder.
A 5% reduction in the risk of depression and a 19% reduction in the risk of dementia
Climb a few steps without being out of breath, walk at a brisk pace without excessive fatigue… These abilities, which we often trivialize, could actually play a key role in preserving your mental health. Because good cardiorespiratory fitness would be associated with a significant reduction in the risk of developing certain disorders, such as depression, dementia or even psychotic disorders, according to a large study published in Nature Mental Health.
To arrive at these conclusions, researchers analyzed data from 27 large studies, involving more than 4 million people.
Concretely, they followed individuals who were initially in good mental health, evaluating their cardiorespiratory capacity (via exercise tests or estimates of the level of physical fitness), then observing the possible appearance of disorders over time.
To do this, they based themselves on the MET, a unit which measures the body’s energy expenditure between rest and light activity such as walking.
Result ? An increase of 1 MET – or a small gain in endurance – would be associated with a 5% reduction in the risk of depression and a 19% reduction in the risk of dementia. In other words, there is no need to embark on major sporting challenges – simple small efforts (walking a little more often, taking up a gentle activity, etc.) could already make a big difference. An opinion shared by Dr Gérald Kierzek, medical director of True Medical.
“However, we must remain cautious”
When the body supplies and uses oxygen better during exercise,
“the brain is also better perfused, better nourished and less exposed to certain inflammatory and vascular mechanisms which promote both depression and cognitive decline. So it is not surprising that better cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with a lower risk of depression, dementia and psychotic disorders!”, reveals Dr Gérald Kierzek. But he
“However, we must remain cautious” he tempers.
“Part of the link may be indirect, because fitter people often move more, sleep better and have fewer cardiovascular risk factors,” nuance the doctor.
If better cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with a lower risk of depression, dementia and psychotic disorders, this does not mean that shortness of breath alone announces a mental disorder, but that it can reveal a form of deconditioning or fragility that is useful to identify.
Progressive training
Improving your breathing comes first “through regular training, even moderate, such as brisk walking, cycling or swimming, gradually increasing duration and intensity”, explains Dr. Gérald Kierzek.
Concretely, “start with short sessions, 10 to 15 minutes, several times a week, then lengthen the duration before accelerating the pace. Aim for an effort where you are out of breath but still able to speak in short sentences. If you have heart disease, lung disease or unusual symptoms, always seek medical advice,” advises the medical director of True Medical.
Significant shortness of breath: when to consult?
Shortness of breath that appears suddenly, that seems excessive in relation to the effort made, or that is accompanied by signs such as chest pain, palpitations, malaise, persistent cough or a rapid drop in performance should lead to consultation without delay.
“On a psychological level, significant respiratory fatigue can also increase anxiety, reinforce the feeling of loss of control and disrupt sleep, which deserves to be taken seriously. Breathing is therefore both an indicator of physical fitness and a clinical signal that should not be trivialized,” concludes Dr Gérald Kierzek.
To evaluate it precisely, tests such as pulmonary function tests (EFR) make it possible to measure lung capacity and guide the diagnosis.