infection, psychological causes and other myths debunked

This Tuesday, the first of May of every month, is celebrated World Asthma Day. This initiative has been celebrated since 1999 after its creation by the Global Asthma Initiative in collaboration with World Health Organization in 1998.

This date is not accidental, because, as stated in Medical News, It was chosen to coincide with spring in the northern hemisphere, “a period when allergens are on the rise, which is relevant because they can trigger asthma symptoms.”

According to the head of the pulmonology department of the Quironsalud Hospital in Cordoba, Luis Manuel Entrenas, in Spain alone it affects about two and a half million people, with a prevalence of 5% in adults and up to 10% in children. Web site. . However, there are still many myths surrounding this disease.

It has psychological reasons

In a document from the Spanish Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (SEAIC), responsible for demystifying misconceptions regarding this disease, they emphasize that “asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that is associated with allergies in up to 70% of cases.”

Although the cause is not psychological, they note that “a person diagnosed with asthma may notice that their symptoms worsen if they are anxious or suffer from recurring attacks of anxiety” due to some of its symptoms, such as “stimulation of reflex bronchospasm and coughing, wheezing, etc. But this is not what happens in all cases and is not the cause of asthma.

Is it contagious

This is also a widespread and false myth, as stated on the website of the Castile and León Health Service, which remembers that it is not contagious because, unlike Covid-19, influenza or bronchitis “are not contagious.” . “However, respiratory infections can cause asthma symptoms by increasing airway inflammation,” they note.

Treatment is carried out only in crisis situations.

As stated in the above-mentioned SEAIC document, asthma is a chronic disease. “There are different treatment recommendations tailored to the specific type of asthma a patient may have,” they detail, adding that some are maintenance and others are symptom relief or so-called “rescue medications.”

“It is important to follow the treatment plan recommended by your respiratory specialist to avoid asthma attacks and improve disease control and quality of life,” they add.

You can’t play sports

The myth that children or teenagers with asthma should not exercise is completely false. As SEAIC notes, almost the opposite effect occurs. “Exercise improves respiratory resistance and exercise tolerance, which is an important aspect of maintaining a healthy lifestyle,” they add, noting that it may reduce the need for medications.

However, certain environmental factors, such as exposure to certain allergens, must be taken into account if activities are conducted outdoors and avoided.

Filmed in the mountains or on the coast.

Contrary to what you might think, nature does not help the symptoms of asthma, which SEAIC well knows is a chronic condition. In fact, they note that asthma and dust mite allergies may be worse in coastal areas where they are more common due to the humidity.

The same thing happens with allergic asthma caused by pollen in mountainous or forested areas, since depending on the vegetation you may be more susceptible to certain types of pollen. In this sense, they recommend that patients know the causes of allergic symptoms and avoid exposure to them as much as possible.