Lung Health Myths, Debunked by a Pulmonologist!
- Doctor Anywhere Team
- Aug 11
- 4 min read
Misinformation about lung health is everywhere—from old-school beliefs passed down through generations to things we casually hear online. To help us separate fact from fiction, we asked Dr. Catherine Joy Tubig, a licensed pulmonologist of Doctor Anywhere, to bust some of the most common lung-related myths she hears from Filipino patients.
Myth 1: Drinking cold water or eating ice cream worsens cough.
“That’s definitely a myth,” says Dr. Catherine. “Cold water or ice cream doesn’t directly worsen a cough or cause serious illness. Some people might just have a sensitive throat, so they feel a little irritation, but it doesn’t mean there’s an infection.”
So where did this myth come from? Many Filipinos associate cold food or drinks with getting sick, but modern medicine says otherwise. According to the Mayo Clinic, coughs are usually caused by viruses, bacteria, allergens, or irritants—not temperature.
Myth 2: If you’ve smoked for years, quitting won’t make a difference anymore.
“That’s also a myth. Even if you’ve smoked for a long time, quitting today still makes a big difference. Your risk for lung diseases and cancer, and even heart disease, goes down right away.”
According to the CDC, within just minutes of quitting smoking, the heart rate drops. After several days, carbon monoxide levels in the blood drop to normal. And within weeks, lung function begins to improve.
Myth 3: Getting wet in the rain or having a wet back causes cough or pneumonia.
“I hear this a lot from patients—‘Doc, I got caught in the rain, that’s why I got sick.’,” laughs Dr. Catherine. “But actually, rain doesn’t cause pneumonia. What causes it is infection. If you happen to get rained on and your immune system is weak, that’s when you can develop an infection. So you might feel cold or chilled, but that alone doesn’t cause illness.”
Pneumonia is caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi, not by getting caught in the rain. The World Health Organization (WHO) lists pneumonia as an infection, and rain is not listed among the causes.
Myth 4: If asthma doesn’t run in the family, you can’t develop it.
“Even if you don’t have a family history of asthma, you can still develop it,” explains Dr. Catherine. “There’s such a thing as adult-onset asthma or even work-related asthma. Pollution, allergens, and respiratory infections can trigger it at any age.”
In fact, CDC data confirms that asthma can develop at any stage in life, even without genetic predisposition. It’s a complex condition influenced by both environmental and biological factors.
Myth 5: All coughs or colds are minor and don’t need medical attention.
“That’s not true. Yes, many coughs and colds go away on their own, especially if they’re allergic or viral. But if it’s lasting a long time, or you’re having trouble breathing, coughing all day, or it’s interfering with your work or sleep, it’s better to consult a doctor early. A simple cough can get worse and lead to more serious infections. It’s always better to catch it early than to wait for it to worsen.”
These myths stick around because they feel familiar or comforting, but we have to base our decisions on facts. Especially now, when it's easy to consult a doctor online. Video consult a licensed doctor through the Doctor Anywhere app. Our general practitioners are available 24/7, even on weekends and holidays, with an average waiting time of less than five minutes. You can also book appointments with our specialists, including pulmonologists, all from the comfort of your home.
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Sources:
1. Dr. Tubig, Catherine Joy. Interviewed on 17 July 2025.
ABOUT THE EXPERT
Dr. Catherine Joy Tubig is a pulmonologist at Doctor Anywhere Philippines, specializing in Adult Pulmonary and Critical Care and Pulmonary Vascular Disease. She also practices at Philippine Heart Center and Cardinal Santos Medical Center. Dr. Tubig earned her medical degree from Far Eastern University - Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation (FEU-NRMF) and is a Fellow of the Philippine College of Physicians and a Diplomate of the Philippine College of Chest Physicians, bringing advanced expertise in respiratory and critical care medicine. Outside of her medical practice, Dr. Tubig loves spending quality time with her dogs and exploring new destinations through travel.
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