“People fear the inhaler more than asthma”: The dangerous myths doctors want patients to stop believing
Published on: May 25, 2026, 10 a.m. | Source: Times of India
An asthma attack can begin quietly. A little tightness in the chest. Breathlessness while climbing stairs. A cough that lingers longer than expected. But for many people, the real struggle starts much later, when the doctor prescribes an inhaler.Across India, inhalers are still treated with suspicion. Some patients hide them inside bags. Others stop using them the moment they feel better. Many refuse them altogether because someone in the family once said, “Once you start using inhalers, you can never stop.”That fear continues to cost patients their health.According to the Global Asthma Report, India carries one of the highest asthma burdens in the world, yet daily controller therapy remains underused among patients who need it most. Dr Mihir Gangakhedkar, Consultant - Pulmonology at Fortis Hospital Mulund, says the problem is not just medical, but deeply social.“There still exists a significant gap between evidence-based care and the patient when it comes to managing asthma, resulting from a combination of stigma, lack of resources and myths associated with inhaler use.”And while science has repeatedly proven the benefits of inhaled therapy, myths continue to travel faster than facts.
