1. "Asthma is all in your head."
FALSE -
Asthma is not imagined or faked. It occurs because you have airway inflammation and constriction of the bronchi and bronchioles in your lungs. Triggers such as stress, crying, yelling or laughing can all provoke an asthma attack.
2. "Asthma can be cured."
FALSE -
There is no cure for asthma, but there are safe, effective ways to control it so you can live
a normal, active life, free of symptoms.
3. "Everyone who has asthma is the same."
FALSE -
Asthma varies from one person to another both in its severity and the degree of treatment
it requires.
4. "I only have asthma when I have trouble breathing."
FALSE -
Asthma is a chronic disease with an underlying inflammation of the airways that causes
asthma symptoms. Your asthma has not gone away just because you don't have symptoms. Daily
control with anti-inflammatory medication is needed. Left untreated, asthma can be a serious and
life-threatening disease.
5. "I only need to take my medication when I have trouble breathing."
FALSE -
The chronic inflammation of the airways needs daily treatment with your controller
medication. Take your controller medication regularly as prescribed. The benefits of regular
use far outweigh any risks.
6. "I can stop taking my controller medication as soon as I feel better."
FALSE -
Your anti-inflammatory medication is doing its job, which is why you are feeling better. If
you stop taking it, the airway inflammation that leads to attacks may return. Always consult with
your doctor before you stop taking your medication.
7. "My child will outgrow her asthma."
FALSE -
Asthma is a lifelong condition that will always require attention. Your child's asthma may
get less severe as she gets older but it can return at any time.
8. "Steroids are dangerous, so I do not want my child taking them."
FALSE -
Steroid controller medications are inhaled, not swallowed, which means they act locally
where they are needed and are not absorbed throughout the body. Furthermore, they are
corticosteroids, not the anabolic steroids used by bodybuilders. Studies have shown that, when
correctly used, inhaled corticosteroids are safe to take over time.
9. "Steroids will stunt my child's growth."
FALSE -
Studies have indicated the use of inhaled corticosteroids does not alter normal growth in
children. Untreated asthma, however, can result in permanent lung damage and have an adverse
effect on normal growth patterns. You should work with your doctor or asthma educator to find
the right medications for your child's asthma.
10. "If I have asthma, I have to avoid sports and physical activity."
FALSE -
Having asthma does not mean that you or your child should limit physical activity. Many
professional athletes have asthma but are able to compete because they have learned to control
it. If you have any limitations in your physical activity, your asthma may not be well controlled.
Consult with your doctor to assess your asthma control level and determine a proper exercise
regimen for you.
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