Don't believe these myths about asthma.
It's difficult enough to try to manage your asthma without a bunch of outdated myths confusing you. Unfortunately, some of these myths have been around for so long that they're hard to stamp out. If you hear anyone claiming these things about asthma, don't believe them:
- Asthma is psychosomatic. This is a particularly destructive myth because it can keep people from getting the medical treatment they need if they think they're just "being too sensitive". Although stress can worsen asthma symptoms, it is definitely a physical disease, caused by an overactive immune reaction to triggers in the air.
- Asthma medicine is only for stopping attacks. Some people only carry an inhaler in case of an attack, but for people with persistent asthma symptoms, a daily medication is necessary in order to maintain a normal quality of life and avoid attacks.
- People with asthma shouldn't exercise. In fact, exercising regularly is critical for improving your lung function and maintaining a healthy weight, which is important for asthma management. People with asthma can participate in most physical activities as long as they manage their symptoms properly. Consulting with a doctor beforehand is usually a good idea when starting a new activity so that you can come up with a plan to manage your asthma while participating.
- Asthma medication is addictive. Asthma patients may be "addicted" to their medication in the sense that they need it in order to live a healthy life. However, there are no physically addictive components in the medication, so patients who use their inhalers every day aren't "hooked".
If you have asthma symptoms that are worsened by triggers in your home, it may be time to invest in a home air purifier. Contact US Air Purifiers for more information on air purifiers for asthma.