Asthma Myths and Misconceptions

While asthma is common, it is also misunderstood. There are many common asthma myths and misconceptions! Here are just a few.

Myth 1: Most children will outgrow asthma

Some children do seem to outgrow their asthma, but many do not.¹ It is not possible to predict who will outgrow his or her symptoms. However, severe asthma is more likely to persist than mild asthma. In one study, 64% of children with mild asthma were symptom-free as adults.² Only 15% of the children with severe asthma outgrew it. Boys are more likely than girls to outgrow their asthma.³

Interestingly, studies have shown that asthma symptoms reappear later in life.³ A study from Arizona showed that nearly two-thirds of people who were “newly diagnosed” with asthma at age 22 wheezed before the age of three. The families likely thought the children had outgrown their symptoms. However, it seems that adulthood asthma actually has its roots in early childhood.

Myth 2: People with asthma should not exercise

Nothing could be further from the truth! Regular exercise is recommended for people with asthma because of its many health benefits.⁴ If your asthma is well controlled, you should be able to participate in any normal activity, including exercise.¹

It is true that exercise triggers symptoms for most people with asthma.⁵ Your health care provider may recommend using a short-acting beta-agonist (SABA) five to 20 minutes before exercising.⁶ This medication opens up the airways. Warming up for ten to 15 minutes may reduce your asthma symptoms.

You can work with your health care provider or respiratory therapist to come up with an exercise plan.

Myth 3: I do not need to take my inhalers when I feel okay

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute strongly recommends taking your long-term control medications each day.¹ Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease. This means that even when you do not have any asthma symptoms, your airways are still inflamed. Long-term control medications reduce the inflammation. With less inflammation, your airways become less sensitive. This prevents symptoms from flaring up, improves your lung function, and reduces the risk of complications.¹

It can be hard to remember or want to take your medication when you are feeling fine. Work with your health care provider to find the lowest dose you need to control your symptoms. Make taking your medication part of your daily routine, for example, before you brush your teeth in the morning or when you sit down to eat breakfast. Store your medication in the same place every time. One study showed that people were more likely to take their inhaler if it was stored in the bathroom instead of next to the bed.⁷

Myth 4: If treatment is not working, the patient must be doing something wrong

There are many reasons that asthma might not improve, even if you are taking your medication correctly.

One-half to two-thirds of people take their medication correctly.⁸ Often the people with the most severe asthma are the most compliant, because their survival depends on it. The fact is that response to treatment is variable from person to person and over time.1 If a person has uncontrolled asthma, it may be that:

• More medication is needed.
• A different type of medication is needed.
• Unidentified triggers are causing asthma to flare up.
• Changes to the Asthma Action Plan are needed to help the patient respond appropriately to worsening symptoms.
• The person has other conditions that need to be treated, such as GERD, COPD, obesity, or vocal cord dysfunction.

It is very common for people to use their inhaler incorrectly, which might mean that too little medication gets into the lungs.⁸ To be sure you are using your inhaler correctly, bring it to each appointment and review proper technique.

Not all people who take their medications incorrectly do so by choice or carelessness. Many find it difficult to afford medications or to find transportation need to get to medical appointments and the pharmacy.^9,10 Bothersome side effects and the inconvenience of taking medications can be barriers as well.¹⁰ If you are having these problems, talk with your health care provider so that you can work together to find a solution.

Myth 5: Smoking does not affect my asthma

Smoking increases the risk of developing asthma. Smokers with asthma have worse outcomes, such as more symptoms, lower lung function, and decreased response to medication.^11,12

Despite these facts, it is not unusual for people to underestimate the effect of smoking on their health. In one survey, more than 40% of smokers with asthma did not believe that smoking had affected their health.¹³ More than 50% did not think they were at a risk of future health problems.

If you need help quitting smoking, ask your health care provider. You may also find helpful resources online at websites such as http://smokefree.gov/.

Myth 6: All asthma is the same

Although people often talk about “asthma” as if it were one disease, there are actually many different types of asthma. People with asthma react to different triggers, have different laboratory values and symptoms, and respond differently to asthma medications.

Asthma ranges in severity from mild to severe. Treatment is very different depending on the severity. Most people with mild to moderate asthma are able to control their asthma with inhaled corticosteroids. However, for about 5% to 10% of people with severe asthma, the typical medications are not enough.⁸ This type of asthma is not well understood. Misdiagnosis and under-treatment contribute to poor outcomes for some patients with severe asthma.¹⁴