Common Myths About Allergy and Asthma

Common Myths about Allergy and Asthma

Allergy and asthma are very common in India and the Asian subcontinent. Allergies have a significant impact on quality of life.

Myth 1 Allergy-related diseases are uncommon

Reality: Incidence of allergy-related diseases have doubled in the past few decades.

1 in 3 people suffers allergies at some time in their life.
1 in 10 people are suffering from Asthma.
1 in 100 has life threatening allergy known as anaphylaxis.

Myth 2 Allergies are harmless

Reality: Allergies negatively impact the quality of life for example tiredness, irritability, poor quality of sleep, poor scholastic performance in children.

Allergies to food, drugs and insect sting can cause a severe systemic reaction that can lead to death.

Myth 3 Moving to another place can cure Allergies

Reality: Moving away from the source of allergen may improve your allergy symptoms. But these allergy symptoms reappear after some time as allergic peoples prone to develop new allergies.

Myth 4 All Children grow out of their Asthma

Reality: Asthma can persist; some children have asthma symptoms that improve or disappear during adolescence, whereas other will worsen. Severe or severe asthma tend to remain much the same as an adult.

Myth 5 Allergy drugs are dangerous and make you drowsy

Reality: Non-drowsy antihistamines are readily available, rarely make people drowsy.

Myth 6 Damp houses are just as healthy as dry houses

Reality: Damp houses have higher mould content than dry homes and indoor mould is a common cause of perennial allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, bronchitis as well as asthma.

Myth 7 Colours and preservatives are a common cause of asthma

Reality: preservatives like sodium metabisulfite (220,221,222) in wine,dried fruits,vinegar,grapes and some fruit salad can worsen,but do not cause asthma. Inhalation of small amount sulphur dioxide may cause a reflex contraction of your airways. Monosodium glutamate may trigger asthma in some people ,but researchers have shown that it is relatively a rare problem