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I’m collecting commonly-held asthma myths. Any suggestions? Tim    Tim Brookes  321 Old Mill, Burlington, VT 05405         (w) (802) 656-1267 (h) (802) 878-2251           PLEASE NOTE NEW WORK PHONE NUMBER

Hi Tim, Glad to have your suggestion.  To me the biggest one is the idea that all the scientific papers on asthma have got to be interpreted only in the light of developing possibilities of medical intervention, i. e. helping a doctor to practise his profession.  The abundant information in the papers like about hyperventilation causing asthma and avoiding it is simply ignored.

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Glad to have your suggestion.  To me the biggest one is the idea that all the scientific papers on asthma have got to be interpreted only in the light of developing possibilities of medical intervention, i. e. helping a doctor to practise his profession.  The abundant information in the papers like about hyperventilation causing asthma and avoiding it is simply ignored.

Well, maybe here is another myth for you: "Asthma and Hyperventilation Syndrome are the same thing." ‘Reply to’ address changed to foil email spammers.

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Glad to have your suggestion.  To me the biggest one is the idea that all the scientific papers on asthma have got to be interpreted only in the light of developing possibilities of medical intervention, i. e. helping a doctor to practise his profession.  The abundant information in the papers like about hyperventilation causing asthma and avoiding it is simply ignored. Well, maybe here is another myth for you: "Asthma and Hyperventilation Syndrome are the same thing."

Hi Colin, How about saying something positive?  I agree that quackery is a problem in connection with medication and that almost all unorthodox medical stuff on the net is phony if it’s not backed by evidence.  Maybe your stance on Buteyko has gotten some people to avoid snake oil etc. Maybe you could oblige by giving more details of what your personal concern is.

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and forgive a follow-up to my own post, but: "If it worked for me, it’ll work for you."

I want to clarify that I’ve gotten some great advice on this group, and knowing what works for other people is often useful information.  It’s just that when someone says "I was cured from doing this, you will be too, and if not, there’s something wrong with you." that my hair stands on end. Scott T. P.SJT:  A quasi-myth:  Asthma means there’s something wrong with you.  (Of COURSE there’s something wrong with me; I can’t BREATHE!)

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I’m collecting commonly-held asthma myths. Any suggestions? Tim Common myths I’ve seen:

  <snip Biggest myth Ive seen is the one where it is claimed you can cure asthma by holding your breath & run around for as long as you can. Something about CO2 levels is the myth propogated. Brenton

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I’m collecting commonly-held asthma myths. Any suggestions? Tim It’s not a commonly held one, at least I hope not, but I have met a

couple of European mothers who believed that their children could CATCH asthma from me.  Sigh.  And we foolish Americans always think Europeans are more sophisticated than we are!! — KIWI CARLISLE

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Wasn’t there a subscriber to this newsgroup last year who claimed he caught asthma from drinking out of a Coke bottle? Tim    Tim Brookes  321 Old Mill, Burlington, VT 05405         (w) (802) 656-1267 (h) (802) 878-2251           PLEASE NOTE NEW WORK PHONE NUMBER – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m collecting commonly-held asthma myths. Any suggestions? Tim It’s not a commonly held one, at least I hope not, but I have met a couple of European mothers who believed that their children could CATCH asthma from me.  Sigh.  And we foolish Americans always think Europeans are more sophisticated than we are!! — KIWI CARLISLE

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Asthma shows up as too much air!?? Never has been to much air when ever I struggle for breath. Edmund

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I’m collecting commonly-held asthma myths. Any suggestions? Tim

It’s not asthma, it’s a cold. It’s not asthma, it’s bronchitis. It can’t be asthma, I don’t have asthma. I’m allergic to xxx, so your asthma must be due to xxx. It’s all in your head. It’s just a way of getting out of xxx. Asthma is rare. Asthmatics are all about to drop dead with an attack. Asthma only shows up as an attack. Asthma only shows up as a wheeze.

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This is great (and at times provocative) list. Anyone got any more? Tim    Tim Brookes  321 Old Mill, Burlington, VT 05405         (w) (802) 656-1267 (h) (802) 878-2251           PLEASE NOTE NEW WORK PHONE NUMBER – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m collecting commonly-held asthma myths. Any suggestions? Tim    Tim Brookes  321 Old Mill, Burlington, VT 05405         (w) (802) 656-1267 (h) (802) 878-2251           PLEASE NOTE NEW WORK PHONE NUMBER Myths: Asthma is caused by emotional upsets. Asthma is caused by overprotective parenting (try parenting an asthmatic and see which is the cause and which is the effect!). Foods do not trigger asthma. All asthma can be controlled using proper breathing techniques. There is such a thing as a hypoallergenic dog (or cat). (Yes, one that lives at someone else’s house; preferably someone that you never visit). There are places that any asthmatic can live that s/he can be symptom-free. Asthma can be completely controlled; the patient with active asthma just isn’t managing it well enough. Asthmatics can’t do sports. Asthma is frequently outgrown. Only <name someone else’s disadvantage people have asthma. (poor, malnourished, cockroach-exposed, unhealthy,…) Only unhealthy people get asthma (corollary: Exercise cures asthma). If you strengthen your immune system, your asthma will go away. If you go for <some stretch of time without an episode, your asthma is cured. If your asthma hasn’t flared for <some stretch of time, you can stop taking your medication. Boy, that was fun! I’m sure I’ll think of more. Mark — Mark Feblowitz,   GTE Laboratories Inc., 40 Sylvan Rd.  Waltham, MA 02254

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I’m collecting commonly-held asthma myths. Any suggestions? Tim

Common myths I’ve seen: "If you really wanted to be better, you would be."   "I don’t need to wait, I never have a reaction to my shots" (THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS MYTH.) "If it worked for me, it’ll work for you." "I can be around (cats, dogs, heaping mounds of MSG), and I don’t have a problem." "You’re not really that sensitive to (cats, dogs, cigarette smoke, garlic)." "What you need is some fresh air.  Go outside (and mow the lawn.)" "Asthma can be cured, but there’s a conspiracy of doctors in the pay of pharmacutical companies keeping it quiet." "You don’t need medication, you just need to drink lots and lots of this herbal tea." Scott T.

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