Common asthma myths and misconceptions
This article by Darush Attar Zadeh features a succinct narrative on the myths and facts around asthma management.
This document supports the fantastic range of tools from animations to interactive slide rules that have been produced as part of the Asthma Right Care movement to support you to challenge perceptions and work with patients to optimise asthma control.
Myth #1 "Asthma Is Not a Serious Disease"
"It’s only asthma...” Sound familiar? Many patients wrongly think asthma is not a serious disease.
Myth #2 "Coughing is part and parcel of asthma"
The truth is with the right treatment patients with asthma can lead a normal life.
Myth #3 "I only need my blue inhaler"
The truth is people with asthma need to carry their blue inhaler for emergencies only. Daily preventers will keep symptoms at bay.
Myth #4 “I’m just allergic to some things...otherwise I’m ok”
The truth is avoiding 'triggers' can reduce symptoms and taking a blue inhaler, can help to provide short-term relief but they don’t address the underlying problem - inflammation.
Katherine HickmanCommons myths can form real barriers to effective symptom control, countering these myths is a really important part of our role as health care professionals.
GP