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Migraine

ASTHMyths and Facts

Clearing up some common myths about asthma may help add to your asthma knowledge. Check out the “asthmyths” (asthma myths) below to help you separate fact from fiction about asthma:

Asthma and You

ASTHMyth Everyone’s asthma is the same.
Fact

No. People with asthma can have different triggers and different symptoms.
ASTHMyth Only emotional people get asthma.
Fact

No. Asthma is the result of inflammation in your lungs. Sometimes feeling emotions such as laughing or crying can bring on asthma symptoms in some patients, but being emotional is not the cause of asthma.
ASTHMyth No symptoms means no asthma.
Fact

No. Asthma is a chronic condition that cannot be cured and can flare up. Daily asthma management is important to help prevent asthma symptoms.
ASTHMyth Moving to a dry climate will cure my asthma.
Fact

No. Asthma cannot be cured. However, you can help prevent asthma symptoms.
ASTHMyth People with asthma cannot play sports.
Fact

No. Most people with good control of their asthma can take part in physical activity. Regular exercise is good for everyone. With proper asthma control, asthma symptoms should not prevent people with asthma from working out and having fun.
ASTHMyth The only way to control asthma is to stay away from all triggers.
Fact

Staying away from asthma triggers is always a good idea, but sometimes it may be beyond your control. There are other steps you can take to help control your asthma, such as following your health care professional’s asthma management plan, which may include taking a daily controller medicine.
ASTHMyth My doctor has more important things to worry about than my asthma.
Fact

Asthma can become a very serious condition when it's not properly controlled. Your health care professional understands this and can help you develop a plan to get your asthma under control. Let your health care professional know how asthma affects your everyday life and ask how you can treat it.
ASTHMyth Once you have your Asthma Action Plan and any medicine your health care professional prescribed, there is nothing more you need to do.
Fact

Keeping your health care professional informed about your condition is an important way to measure progress. In fact, the whole point of setting asthma treatment goals is to measure your progress to see what's working in your Asthma Action Plan and what is not. That's why it’s so important to give your health care professional regular updates on how you're doing.

Asthma and Your Child

ASTHMyth My child will outgrow asthma.
Fact

No. Children with asthma are likely to have it for life, even if symptoms are not always present. The good news is that you and your child’s health care professional can help prevent your child’s asthma symptoms.
ASTHMyth Asthma attacks will decrease when my child gets used to being around pets.
Fact

No. Animal dander, dried skin from pets with fur or feathers, can be a common asthma trigger as long as your child is around pets. However, working to stay away from asthma triggers and having your child take asthma medicines as prescribed can help reduce your child's asthma symptoms.
ASTHMyth Asthma will hold my child back.
Fact

With more cases of asthma being diagnosed each day, chances are your child is not the only one with asthma. Work with your health care professional to develop the right Asthma Action Plan for your child and share it with your child's teachers and school nurse.
ASTHMyth My child does not need his or her prescription asthma-controller medicine every day.
Fact

No. When your child has no symptoms, it may be hard to think about giving him or her an asthma-controller medicine every day as prescribed by your child’s health care professional. It’s important to recognize that treating asthma every day as directed by the health care professional can help stop symptoms before they start. If your child is using his or her fast-acting inhaler more than 2 days a week, your child’s asthma may not be under control. Keep in mind, fast-acting inhalers are important to relieve symptoms once they happen, but a daily controller medicine can help prevent symptoms from happening in the first place.

Just remember: the real fact of life is that you can help prevent many asthma symptoms before they start. Having a better understanding of how asthma affects the airways and partnering with your or your child’s health care professional can help get asthma under control. Healthy changes at home and taking medicine as part of a routine also can play an important role in asthma care.

Further Resources

About.com

Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology

American Academy of Pediatrics

American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

The Cleveland Clinic health information

eMedicineHealth.com

KidsHealth.org

Mayo Clinic

Pollen.com

WebMD


Further Resources

Allergy and Asthma Network - Mothers of Asthmatics, Inc.

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology

American Lung Association

CDC: asthma's impact on children and adolescents

CDC: how to quit

EPA: asthma and indoor environments

NIH: asthma and physical activity in the school

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute


Further Resources

American Diabetes Association

Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation

Diabetic Exercise and Sports Association

International Diabetes Federation

NIH: NIDDK diabetes health information

NIH: NIDDK nutrition information

NIH: National Diabetes Education Program

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

The Juvenile Diabetes Foundation


Further Resources

American Council for Headache Education

American Headache Society

National Headache Foundation

New England Center for Headache


Further Resources

American Dietetic Association

Dietary guidelines for americans

Food and nutrition information center

NIH: nutrition information

NIH: weight loss and control

NIH: weight control


Always check with the health care professional before beginning any activity plan or increasing activity. It's also important to ask him or her about target heart rate to help determine appropriate exercise intensity.

Always check with your health care professional before beginning any activity plan or increasing your activity. It's also important to ask him or her what your target heart rate is to help determine what exercise intensity is appropriate for you.

Always be sure to check with your health care professional before beginning any activity plan or increasing your activity.

It always helps to ask:

  • What activities are right for me?
  • How much should I do each day?
  • How many days a week?

It's also important to ask him or her what your target heart rate is to help determine what exercise intensity is appropriate for you.

This information is provided by an independent source. Merck is not responsible for this content. Please discuss any and all treatment options with your healthcare professional. The manufacturer of a product generally has the most complete information about that product.

This information is provided by an independent source. Merck is not responsible for this content. Please discuss any and all treatment options with your healthcare professional. The manufacturer of a product generally has the most complete information about that product.

This information is provided by an independent source. Merck is not responsible for this content. Please discuss any and all treatment options with your healthcare professional. The manufacturer of a product generally has the most complete information about that product.

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Health Coach Call

Listen to an example of what a call might sound like.

PlayNutrition call (7:16)
PlayActivity call (7:22)

Here are some important things to know about your Health Coach Call:

Our Coaches are employed by a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., a pharmaceutical company. The information provided is based on generally available nutrition and physical activity guidelines and information applicable to most people. Health Coaches are not licensed dietitians or health and fitness professionals, and they are not in a position to assess your individual nutrition or activity needs. This information is not appropriate if you are pregnant, and it may not be appropriate if you have specialized dietary needs or limitations on the level of activity or exercise you can safely undertake due to your medical conditions. Consult your health care professional regarding your specific needs, limitations, and health conditions. Health Coaches can educate and coach you on nutritional and physical activity recommendations for the typical person. Health Coaches are not health care professionals and cannot offer medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your health care professional because he or she knows you best. If you have a chronic health condition, check with your health care professional to find out if physical activity is safe before you start. If during your call you have concerns about any condition, special dietary needs, limitations on the level of activity or exercise, any treatments, side effects, or adverse experiences, your Health Coach will refer you to your health care professional.
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Activity Points Explained

This Planner uses Activity Points as a way to help you stay motivated and focused on your activity goals. Points are assigned to each activity in the Planner. You'll earn more points when you increase the duration of the activity.

For example, when you bicycle for 15 minutes at a moderate pace (12 to 14 mph), you earn 120 Activity Points. To earn the same number of Activity Points while cycling at a very easy pace (less than 10 mph), you would need to bike for 30 minutes.

If you are currently inactive or get very little activity during the week, a good goal to work toward is 500 Activity Points each week. This is equal to 30 minutes of moderate–intensity aerobic exercise on 5 days a week.

If you are moderately or highly active (more than 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each week), you may want to aim for up to 1,000 Activity Points each week. This is equivalent to 1 hour of activity on 5 days a week.

What you'll gain

At 500 Activity Points per week: Once you consistently reach this level (ie, 150 minutes of moderate–intensity aerobic activity per week), you may gain substantial health benefits. These benefits include lower risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and depression.

At 1,000 Activity Points per week: When you consistently reach this level (ie, 300 minutes of moderate–intensity aerobic activity per week), you may gain even more health benefits. These benefits include a decreased risk of colon and breast cancer and an even lower risk of heart disease and diabetes.

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