Myths Of Asthma
Two thirds of people have serious misconceptions about asthma, warn experts.
A National Asthma Campaign survey found many people wrongly think the condition is only associated with childhood.
In fact, 40% of asthmatics only start to suffer as adults and two out of every three develop the condition after the age of 15.
Myth: Some dog breeds, such as Chihuahuas, are better for people with asthma and allergies.
Reality: It is the protein found in the pet’s saliva, dander and urine that causes allergies in some individuals, not the pet’s hair. Since all dogs have dander, saliva and urine, there are no particular breeds which are better for people with asthma and allergies.
Myth: Many people think asthma is all in your head.
Reality: It’s in your lungs. Asthma is a chronic disease in the airways of your lungs. Asthma stays with you all the time, but your asthma symptoms may be worse at some times.
Because asthma is with you all the time, many children and adults need to take asthma medicine every day to help control symptoms and help prevent attacks.
Myth: It’s better to ‘tough it out’ without taking asthma medication.
Reality: The lungs do not get stronger or better able to deal with asthma if a person tries to work through an attack without medication. In fact, the lung inflammation that goes along with an attack can cause permanent damage to the lungs. Always use medication according to the Asthma Action Plan. If you have questions, talk with your healthcare provider.
Myth: Pollution from cars causes asthma.
Reality: This sounds very plausible - it seems logical to expect dirty air to cause respiratory conditions. But, while there is some evidence that traffic pollution can make existing asthma worse, there is little or no evidence that pollution from either traffic or industry actually causes asthma to develop in the first place.
Myth: Moving interstate can cure allergies
Reality: Allergic rhinitis may be triggered by wind-blown pollen in spring and summer, or by other allergens such as house dust mite, animal danders and mould spores all year round.
Moving away from the source of allergen (such as interstate, or from inland areas to the coast) may temporarily relieve allergies. Unfortunately allergic people are also prone to developing new allergies, and often symptoms reappear within a few years with exposure to new plants, or other sources of allergen such as moulds or house dust mite.
MYTH: A child that doesn’t wheeze can’t possibly have asthma.
Reality: Coughing, not wheezing, is the number-one asthma symptom. My 9 year-old asthmatic racked up pages and pages of doctor and hospital records when she was younger. She’s been on oral meds, a nebulizer, or an inhaler since she was 10 months-old and been hospitalized for her breathing problems. I’ve never heard her wheeze. Not once.
