Busting common
asthma myths
T
he theme of World Asthma Day 2021 was ‘Uncovering Asthma
For those just starting their exercise journey, it’s important to start
Misconceptions’.
small and build fitness gradually. If the activity is too strenuous for your
Throughout history, there have been various myths around asthma --
fitness level, or you’re not monitoring your asthma properly, you might risk an attack.
for example, cigarettes were once considered an effective treatment for asthma attacks! While that myth has thankfully fallen by the wayside,
Myth #2 - People outgrow childhood asthma
there are still plenty of misconceptions that remain widespread. Sadly,
While some children’s symptoms do improve over time, you mustn’t
these misconceptions can prevent people from getting the support
assume that your child doesn’t need asthma treatment anymore.
they need to keep their asthma well controlled and to live life to
Sometimes, symptoms recede and then return in young adulthood.
the full.
Asthma can also develop in adults who never had asthma as children. This can be triggered by obesity, allergies, or exposure to toxins.
So what are some common asthma myths, and where does the truth really lie?
Myth #3 - I should only use my inhaler when I really need it, or the medicine will stop working
Myth #1 - Avoid exercise if you have asthma
There are two types of medications prescribed for asthma: preventers
It was once thought that physical activity could make asthma worse,
and relievers. The preventer is taken daily to control airway swelling,
but experts now recognise the importance of exercise for people living
and the reliever treats symptoms of an asthma flare-up.
with asthma. Studies have shown that sports and exercise can have a positive effect on asthma symptoms.
There is no evidence that taking regular asthma medication long term reduces its effectiveness. Prevention is better than cure, so taking your
It’s possible that asthma may flare up during exercise, particularly in
preventer medication regularly is key to managing your asthma well.
cold, dry air. Many sports people with asthma find their symptoms worsen with the change in weather. It’s important to have an Asthma
When you do have an asthma attack, this doesn’t mean your daily
Action Plan in place so that you can continue to enjoy sports while
medication is no longer working. It might be that the air quality is
keeping your symptoms under control.
worse, or you’ve been exposed to a new trigger.
6 Better Breathing
