DISCLAIMER:  I am not asthmatic, nor any of my family members, but I know a lot of people who have this illness and how difficult it is to have asthma.

I thank God for not giving either me or Kib this disease.  I know how hard it is to manage asthma. I have friends whose activities were limited due to asthma.  It is also hard for parens who have asthmatic kids because when their child has an asthma attack, it really worries them so much.

Asthma is a heterogenous disease usually characterized by chronic airway inflammation.  Asthma is characterized by wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and cough that vary over time and intensity, together with variable expiratory airflow limitation.  Asthma can be triggered by dust, changes in weather, animals (pet hair in particular), exercise, tobacco smoke, and stress.

There are myths about asthma that needs to be corrected.

• Eating geckos (tuko) can cure asthma.  This has yet to be proven and backed up by a medical research.
• Asthma medicine is only needed to stop an attack.  It depends.  People who have mild, moderate, and severe persistent asthma need a daily long term controller medicine, usually an inhaled corticosteriod, to control inflammation and minimize asthma attack.
• People can outgrow asthma.  There will come a time that asthma symptoms will 'hibernate', but it doesn't mean that a person is asthma-free.  There is still a possibility of an asthma attack in the future.
• Asthma is easy to control.  Most of the time it depends on how well you follow your asthma treatment plan--the condition can be difficult to manage.  Goals of treatment include preventing chronic symptoms and asthma flares, maintaining normal lung function and activity levels, and avoiding serious or long term medication side effects.
• Allergies have nothing to do with asthma.  More than 50% of asthma cases in the USA are linked to allergies.  Common allergens include cats, pollen, mold, and dust mites.
• People with asthma shouldn't exercise.  Regular exercise is highly encouraged for asthma patients as this improves lung function and help maintain a healthy weight-reducing asthma risk and help breathe easier.  However, before beginning an exercise program, asthma patient should consult a doctor first.
• People with asthma can't get flu shots.  On the contrary, the more that the asthma patient should get an annual flu shot because flu can trigger asthma attack.
• Moving to a dry climate can cure asthma.  A change in the environment can temporarily improve asthma symptoms but it won't cure the disease.
• Asthma medicines are habit forming.  Asthma medications are not addictive.  Long term use of medicine is often needed to manage the condition and prevent an attack.
• Asthma is a psychological condition.  Asthma is a disease of inflammation of the lungs, although stress and emotions can sometimes exacerbate asthma symptoms.  Hyperventilation is not a symptom of asthma.
• Steriods used to treat asthma are the same as the steriods used by athletes to get bigger and stronger.  The steroids used are different: the one used by athletes are testosterone, growth hormone, and androstenedione while the one used by asthma patients are glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid derivatives.
• When I feel fine and have no symptoms it's because the asthma has gone away.  Asthma can be partially or well controlled depending on frequency and timing of symptoms, use of medications and impact on everyday quality of life.
• Nebulizers are the best way to give asthma medicines to babies and children.  Medicines given by metered dose inhaler with spacer with face mask is just as effective as the inhaler given to adults.
• Dietary supplements can help ease asthma symptoms.  A variety of herbs and supplements have been studied, but none have been found to improve asthma.

ASTHMAlaya ka ba talaga?

GSK, PCCP, and PSAAI committed on helping patients achieve asthma control

Photo op with GSK, PCCP and PSAAI team

I commit to help spread awareness about asthma!