Asthma Myths

Below are some common myths about asthma, and the reasons they should not be believed. Years ago (not many though) people where actually stupid enough to believe some of these things. Its probably just as well Doctors and scientists discovered the true ways of asthma, or may asthmatics would be dead and buried by now.

Asthma is all in the mind.

Well asthma is certainly not! Asthmatics often have attacks when facing emotional stress, and this has caused many people to think that asthma is a psychosomatic condition. Well it is not! Asthma is real. Very real. It starts in the airways and not in he mind. Emotions can however act as asthma triggers, causing flare-ups or making asthma worse. This is a far cry from asthma being all in the mind.

Asthma is not a serious condition

Well asthma is a serious condition, and thats a fact. It is essential to recognise the signs and symptoms of asthma, and respond to them right away. Asthma attacks can last for several minutes, or go on for hours, or even days. The longer an attack persists, the more dangerous it is for the patient. When airway obstruction becomes severe, the sufferer may experience respiratory failure, pass out or even die. Asthma is a very serious condition indeed.

Children will grow out of asthma.

Well unfortunately no. Asthma is a chronic condition. If you are dignosed with asthma, chances are that you will have it for the rest of yor life. Asthmatics may not show symptoms all the time, but they still have asthma underneath. Children might improve or control their asthma in time, but they don't ever get rid of it.

No one dies of asthma anymore.

Asthma is a chronic life threatening condition. Asthma (alarmingly) is now believed to cause 180,000 deaths a year. Deaths from asthma are continuing to rise steadily, and no one knows the reasons why. Maybe people are not getting the proper care they need. Maybe asthmatics are taking too much of their medication(inhalers). Well no one knows for sure, but a lot of people die from asthma.

Asthmatics should not exercise.

Physical activity is not only possible for asthmatics, it is essential for good health. The key to a successful program is choosing the right exercises ( even if there done very slowly) the best time and places to do them. Even if it is getting up and down from a chair more often. Asthmatics should exercise.

Asthma can be cured.

Asthma cannot be cured (not yet anyway). There is nothing as bad as reading advertisements on 'cure your asthma now'. Medication is used to control asthma, until a cure (maybe) is found.

Asthma medications are worse for asthma.

This is another common asthma myth that falls into the 'complete rubbish catergorey 'that' , asthma medications do more harm than good. Well, some asthma medications, like oral steroids do have very nasty side effects. However, if you have very severe asthma that requires steroids, taking the medication is much better than the alternative, 'Death'. Most asthma medications, have little or no side effects, and the side effects usually go away within a few weeks, from first starting the drugs. Asthma medication is essential to every asthmatic and without it the alternative is very grim indeed.

You can catch asthma.

No! You can not catch asthma. Asthma is not contagious. You can not give asthma to other people. An asthmatic parent can possibly pass on asthma through their genes to their children. Some people used to say that moving to another climite can give you asthma or cure it. Well when you arrive your asthma symptoms might improve (or get worse) but your lungs become sensitised to a new climite.

You dont have asthma when you dont have symptoms.

Many people think that asthmatics only have trouble breathing when show symptoms of breathlessness, wheeze etc. They think that asthma comes and goes, day by day and week by week. Well the truth is people with asthma have it all the time. It is a chronic condition, and airway inflamation is usually always there, even when asthmatics do not show symptoms. Futhermore, there is increasing evidence that if asthma is left uncontrolled or untreated, inflamation may cause long term,permanent loss of lung function.

Seven is the magic number.

Seven is the magic number with asthma. Well sure is not. People have believed for years that asthma goes in seven year cycles. Well no it does not. This is another common myth that it goes from mild to severe and back again, roughly every seven years. People with asthma usually go through peroids when there asthma gets better or worse. Asthma does not occur in seven year patterns. Asthmatics have asthma every day, but it is controlled in most people.

Steroids stunt Childrens growth.

Most parents are worried that when their asthmatic children are given steroids, that there height will be stunted. They do not stop the growth of a child, but they may slow it down. Even asthma its self was once thought to stunt childrens growth. Children with severe asthma tend to go through puberty later than normal, but they do go on to reach the full adult height, just some get there quicker than others.

These where once, (and some still are) stupidly believed asthma myths.

References: buteyko.co.nz