Debunking the 5 Most Common Asthma Myths

Wheezing, coughing, chest discomfort, and shortness of breath can be many things on their own. However, when they occur together, it’s often an indicator that you have asthma. Almost 28 million Americans have asthma, so it’s more common than you might think.

Did you know that across the nation, over $50 billion in medical care and medications are needed to treat or prevent asthma attacks and routine care? Another $29 billion is spent on asthma-related deaths. Plus, lost work and school accounts for another $3 million.

Asthma is one of the nation’s costliest diseases, increasing a person’s average yearly medical costs by almost $3,300. It’s also a misunderstood chronic condition. People have so many misconceptions about what asthma is and how costly it is. Premium Allergy wants to help raise awareness by sharing and debunking the five most common asthma myths.

Asthma Is All in Your Head

One of the most frustrating myths we’ve heard is that “Asthma is all in your head.” It’s not. It’s a real condition where the airways become triggered and inflamed and restrict airflow to the lungs. Asthma is terrifying. If you’ve ever had an asthma attack, you’d know it’s not something that will go away if you just don’t think about it.

What you can do is find what your triggers are and see if you can avoid them as much as possible. If stress is a trigger, that’s a tough one to overcome, but Tai Chi and Yoga are two exercise forms that help you relax by teaching you meditative breathing. That can help. Learning other ways to ease stress, such as taking a break from whatever is stressing you or going outside for a walk may help.

The problem is that not everyone has asthma triggered by stress. If your asthma attacks occur when the air fills with smoke, it’s hard to avoid smoky air during wildfire season or if a neighbor has a wood-burning stove, charcoal grill, or fire pit. You can’t think away environmental triggers. They’re not in your head. Contact an asthma and allergy doctor today at our Fresno asthma clinic to get help with your unique triggers.

Asthma Is Easily Controlled

In addition to the “it’s all in your head” crowd, there are also people who believe it’s an easy disease to control. There are effective treatments, but they can only treat the symptoms and try to lessen the severity and frequency. No medication controls the disease from flaring up. 

A CDC study found that rates of asthma attacks in children have declined thanks to medications and better treatment options, but 44% of children still do not have their asthma under control. In terms of adults, almost 40% of adults reported having at least one asthma attack in 2021.

Can you easily control asthma? No. Can you work with an asthma and allergy doctor and find medications and alternative treatment methods that help you manage the disease? Yes. Is it easy? Not always. Medications can be expensive, and it often takes time to find the right asthma treatment plan.

Asthma Medications Are Addictive

We’ve heard many patients say that they don’t want to use certain prescriptions because they’re addictive. Albuterol is one of the medications that patients hesitate to use because they’ve heard it’s addictive. It’s not. 

You may find yourself depending on it because you overuse it, but it’s not addictive. If you use an inhaler, remember that it’s a rescue medication, not something to use 24/7. If you’re using it that often, it’s because you don’t have your asthma under control. Visit our Fresno asthma clinic to lean more about maintenance asthma medications.

Long-term control medications are daily medications you use to help control the symptoms. They don’t work as quickly, but they help you avoid a full-blown asthma attack. Use them as your primary medication and inhalers are for emergencies only.

Avoid Exercise if You Have Asthma

Exercise and physical activity can trigger asthma in certain people. Learning how hard you can push yourself is the first step to staying in shape. Because exercise is important, you need to get at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. You need to work out at a moderate pace to get your heart rate up and your blood flowing. Exercise helps strengthen your lungs, so you can’t overlook a daily workout. 

Learn to reach the signs of a pending asthma attack. If you feel something changing as you exercise, stop, sit down, and try to relax until the sensations pass. Start at a slow pace and work up. Always start with a warm-up and take the time to cool down when you’re done. You might feel better working out when someone is with you. If that’s the case, sign up for a fitness class or get someone to go on walks with you. The doctors at our Fresno asthma clinic are available to help you navigate your asthma.

People Outgrow Asthma as They Get Older

Asthma is not a disease you outgrow with age. It’s a disease that medical researchers find is diagnosed in about 2.2 out of every 1,000 adults each year. You may never have had symptoms as a child and suddenly develop asthma as an adult. Children who have asthma do not find it goes away once they become adults. It doesn’t happen.

While you cannot outgrow asthma, you can work with an asthma specialist and find effective treatments. You must realize you can still have an asthma attack. Disease management is going to help you avoid asthma attacks, but there are no guarantees that they won’t suddenly reappear. 

Your Fresno Asthma Clinic

What you need to do is work with an asthma and allergy doctor to investigate your triggers and symptoms. You need to find the different medications that help you and don’t work as well. Be prepared for your needs to change over time. It’s normal to suddenly need to have your prescription asthma medications evaluated and adjusted. 

Many things can trigger asthma attacks, and it’s a different experience for everyone. Asthma is not a stereotypical disease where everyone encounters the same triggers and symptoms. Among the more common triggers and causes are:

• Aspirin
• Chemicals and cleaners
• Cold weather
• Dust mites
• Foods
• Genetics
• Mold spores
• Obesity
• Pet dander
• Physical activity/exercise
• Pollen
• Poor air quality
• Smoke
• Stress
• Viral infections like the flu or a cold

Do what you can to avoid your triggers. If you find that aspirin makes your asthma worsen, don’t use aspirin. Talk to your doctor about a safer over-the-counter pain medication.

More than one thing can trigger asthma. You might find it hard to control your breathing when it’s cold and you’re on a hike. Having a parent with asthma also makes it more likely that you’ll have asthma. As you learn more about your experience with the disease, you have the power to avoid making your symptoms worse.

Premium Allergy & Respiratory Center’s Dr. Sabry has more than 15 years of experience in asthma care. She helps both children and adults find asthma treatments that help them live fulfilling lives. Telehealth visits are available or come into the office to learn more about today’s asthma treatments.