Asthma is an inflammation of the respiratory tract characterized by narrowing of the airways, causing shortness of breath. Respiratory problems cause sufferers to have difficulty or even not be able to carry out normal activities. Even in some cases, asthma can trigger asthma complications that cause death.
Until now, there are still quite a lot of myths and facts about asthma circulating in Indonesia. In fact, mishandling can lead to asthma complications and death. The following are myths and facts that are often found in the community regarding asthma:
Myth 1: Asthma occurs due to neurological and psychological problems.
Fact: Asthma is a disease that involves the lungs and respiratory tract. Asthma symptoms occur because of the respiratory tract, accompanied by inflammation. It is triggered by many things, such as dust, cold weather, flower pollen, and mites.
Myth 2: Asthma is a respiratory disease, not a lung disease.
Fact: Respiratory disorders in asthma are located in the alveoli which are part of the lungs. So, lung disease is not only tuberculosis, but asthma is a lung disease. Therefore, the doctor who treats it is a pulmonary and respiratory specialist.
Myth 3: Asthma can be cured.
Fact: Asthma is a chronic disease that is triggered by a genetic pathological disorder, the allergic nature that causes asthma will always persist. Therefore, asthmatics cannot be 100% free from the disease. However, asthma symptoms can be controlled using regular medication control. If asthma symptoms can be controlled, people with asthma can move like other people. Asthma attacks can occur again if the patient is exposed to trigger factors. Therefore, people with asthma should avoid asthma trigger factors that can come from inside and outside the body, such as excessive feeling, stress, dust, cold air, animal hair, air pollution, and so on.
Myth 4: Treating asthma with inhalers can be addictive.
Fact: Not addictive. Just, the development of asthma drugs in aerosol form using an inhaler is the most important advance in the treatment of asthma. In the past, asthma medications had to be taken or injected. In the long term it can cause side effects, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, bone loss, and so on. With the use of inhalers, these side effects can be avoided. The drug also works directly on the target, namely the respiratory tract, so it does not spread everywhere. The dose given is also smaller, which is 1/20 of the drinking dose, so that side effects are lower.
Myth 5: Supplements can treat asthma.
Fact: This is not entirely true. Currently, circulating various supplements that are believed to cure asthma. However, so far there has been no scientific research that can prove that these supplements are really effective for the treatment of asthma.
The best advice for people with asthma is to eat healthy and nutritionally balanced foods, such as fruit, vegetables, low-fat and high-fiber foods.
Myth 6: Patients who relapse, must immediately lie down before getting further treatment.
Fact: This myth is clearly wrong. suffering that lies next to must catch his breath in a sitting position. This position makes the lung cavity more open, making it easier for the patient to get oxygen. Don't forget to loosen the things that bind like bra straps, belts, and clothes that are piled up—like jackets or sweaters.
Myth 7: Children with asthma must also have asthma.
Fact: Although most asthma is genetic, it's still possible that children of asthmatic parents don't have asthma. Asthma is a form of allergy. It is this nature of allergies that parents pass down to their children, not asthma itself. A study conducted by the American Journal of Repiratory and Critical Care Medicine, states, if one of the parents of a child has asthma, then asking the child has asthma is three times more likely to be someone whose parent does not have asthma. parents suffer from asthma, then the risk of the child suffering from asthma is six times greater.
Myth 8: Asthma is easy to recur if you are in a humid place.
Fact: Not true. People with asthma are advised to often be in a place where the air is humid to reduce asthma attacks. Places with high humidity contain high moisture, which makes asthma sufferers feel better.
Myth 9: people with asthma should not exercise.
Fact: That statement is also not true. Asthma sufferers also need to exercise to maintain their physical fitness. It's just that exercise that can be done by asthmatics is light exercise that is not too tiring.
Article Source:
P2PTM KEMKES (2017). http://p2ptm.kemkes.go.id/artikel-sehat/mitos-dan-fakta-tentang-asma
Farmaku (2020). https://www.farmaku.com/artikel/mitos-fakta-penyakit-asma/
Klikdokter.com (2017). https://www.klikdokter.com/info-sehat/read/3183257/7-mitos-tentang-asma-yang-masih-banyak-dipercaya
Image Source:
https://www.vectorstock.com/royalty-free-vector/asthma-man-medicine-vector-37072865