Can asthma be fatal? Dr Anusha clears the air on major misconceptions, precautions
Asthma, a chronic lung disease results in wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath, about which lot of myths prevail
By Dr Anusha CM
India has more than 35 million asthma cases, contributing about 13 per cent of the global asthma cases. As per reports, India contributes between 42-46 per cent of the global casualties, which is extremely high.
Asthma is prevalent among young children and adults, fuelled by factors including dust, pollen and air pollution. However, several myths about asthma continue to prevail.
Dr Anusha CM, MD, a pulmonologist from Bengaluru, debunked some of the common myths about asthma.
Myth 1: Asthma is only a childhood disease and can be outgrown.
Fact: Asthma affects a lot of young children, and most of them outgrow it when they reach adolescence. But it does not mean that they donāt get asthma at all. There might be a chance that, later in their lives, maybe after 30 or 40 years, there are possibilities of developing asthma again.
Myth 2: People with asthma should avoid exercise.
Fact: This is not at all true. If those affected by asthma take medications regularly, like any other athlete, they can carry out all the exercises.
Myth 3: Asthma medications are very addictive and lose effectiveness over time.
Fact: This is absolutely false. Asthma medications are given to control the symptoms. Due to the nature of the disease, the allergens keep affecting the people with the issue, and they develop asthma symptoms frequently, which mandates the frequent use of an inhaler.
For those affected frequently by asthma, avoid the allergens to keep asthma attacks in check.
Myth 4: Asthma is not a fatal condition.
Fact: This is false. Around 13.2 patients are dying of asthma for every thousand affected. There are about 34 lakh people in India suffering from asthma.
Asthma can be fatal, and the only way to prevent fatalities is to use the inhalers properly as prescribed by the pulmonologist.
Myth 5: Medications need to be started only when the symptoms appear.
Fact: This is not true. There are preventive medicines which keep the airway inflammation in check. This can be used to prevent the frequent flaring up of asthma. Those affected should not stop using the inhalers and should continue using them for the duration as prescribed by the pulmonologist to prevent frequent exacerbations.
Myth 6: Wheezing is the only sign of asthma.
Fact: This is false. Wheezing is just one among the many signs of asthma. Other symptoms include recurrent cold, cough, dry cough, throat infection, chest heaviness, feeling tired and difficulty in breathing, especially while climbing stairs, going uphill or carrying out strenuous activities.
The author, Dr Anusha CM, is a pulmonologist based out of Bengaluru.
