Asthma, a chronic respiratory condition affecting millions worldwide, often hides in plain sight. The inflammation and narrowing of the airways characterise this ailment.
Despite the clear medical necessity of inhalers in asthma management, a pervasive stigma has emerged, discouraging individuals from seeking the relief they urgently need.
“Stigma related to inhaler usage can include the belief that people with asthma who use inhalers are weak, lazy, drug addicts and that it is addictive,” Dr Majeed Pasha explains.
“This stigma can also lead to people avoiding using their inhaler when they need it, especially in public, which can worsen their asthma symptoms and its severity.”
Exploring the root causes of this stigma Dr Pasha, points out, “People can be misled by unauthorised individuals, including relatives, friends, or unqualified healthcare providers.”
Dr Pasha notes that asthma is prone to recurrence and because of this, it is exploited by unqualified therapists who claim that using inhalers are detrimental to one’s health.
Advocating for it, he adds that Asthma cannot be definitively controlled or permanently eliminated. While asthma reduces for some, one must use it as long as symptoms persist.
Dr Pasha adds that by implementing scientific approaches, there is hope to reduce the stigma associated with inhaler usage and improve the overall quality of life for individuals.