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Which Facts About Asthma Are Really Myths?

In observance of National Asthma Awareness Month, we share five facts and five myths about asthma with you.

Fact: Asthma affects about 18 million adults in America, or roughly 8% of the population.

Fact: Nearly 7 million American children have asthma, approximately 9%.

Fact: Asthma can cause wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing and chest tightness.

Fact: Asthma often runs in families.

Fact: Many different exposures can trigger asthma. Some examples:

Dust mites

Tobacco smoke

Air pollution

Cockroach droppings

Pet dander (from dogs, cats, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, etc.)

Mold

Wood smoke

Myth: Smoking does not affect asthma.

We are not sure how many people would really believe such a myth: smoking has a major effect as an asthma trigger and can also contribute to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a breathing condition in which the lungs lose the capacity to exchange oxygen efficiently.

Myth: You only need to take your medicines when you are having an attack.

For most people with asthma, taking preventive medicines daily is the best way to stay out of trouble.

Myth: Kids with asthma shouldn’t play sports.

Many athletes, even Olympic-level athletes, compete despite having asthma. They do have to work hard at keeping their condition under control.

Myth: Asthma is easy to control.

Controlling asthma may require several different types of medicines and careful attention to the treatment regimen.

Myth: Asthma can not be cured.

Although many doctors believe this to be true, evidence suggests that SOME cases of hard-to-control asthma that started following an infection may be cured with appropriate long-term antibiotic treatment. For more information, see A Cure for Asthma? What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You–and Why, by David Hahn, MD.

 

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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