# Asthmatics: are you self-conscious about using your inhaler in public?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asthmatics-are-you-self-conscious-about-using-your-inhaler-in-public/647574>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [January 18, 2013, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asthmatics-are-you-self-conscious-about-using-your-inhaler-in-public/647574 "2013-01-18T01:38:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asthmatics-are-you-self-conscious-about-using-your-inhaler-in-public/647574/1 "2013-01-18T01:38:32Z")

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I’m asthmatic, and I’m very self-conscious about using my inhaler where other people can see me. (I’m naturally awkward and very shy, so that’s why.)

Are there any other asthmatic people out there who are shy about using their inhaler in front of other people? Or do you not care about who sees you?

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**Author:** ![Thylacine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thylacine/32/1143_2.png) [@Thylacine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thylacine)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asthmatics-are-you-self-conscious-about-using-your-inhaler-in-public/647574/2 "2013-01-18T02:00:55Z")

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My asthma has become a bit more than that in recent years but no, I have never had a problem using an inhaler in front of people, it is far less embarrassing than letting things progress into a full attack and dying, that screws up everyone’s day.

I live in Australia so there may well be stigmas about asthma elsewhere I don’t know about but here nobody has ever blinked an eye and I have never thought to worry about it.

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**Author:** ![ajaye](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ajaye/32/17180_2.png) [@ajaye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ajaye)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asthmatics-are-you-self-conscious-about-using-your-inhaler-in-public/647574/3 "2013-01-18T02:07:52Z")

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On balance, between small embarrassment and death, I’ll choose embarrassment every time.

The older I get though, the less it bothers me.

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**Author:** ![Frosted\_Glass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frosted_glass/32/3926_2.png) [@Frosted\_Glass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frosted_Glass)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asthmatics-are-you-self-conscious-about-using-your-inhaler-in-public/647574/4 "2013-01-18T02:35:09Z")

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> [@ajaye](#):
>
> The older I get though, the less it bothers me.

I think this is a big part of it for me as well. When I was younger, I was a little self conscious about using my inhaler in public but the older I got the less I cared. Now I don’t even think twice about it. The hospital is no fun whatsoever.

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**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asthmatics-are-you-self-conscious-about-using-your-inhaler-in-public/647574/5 "2013-01-18T02:48:09Z")

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Yes, I always feel self-conscious if I have to use it and I try to go where I have privacy if I have to take a puff.