The Asthma Australia report also found nearly one in five women admitted they struggled to perform in the bedroom because of the condition.
The findings shine a light on an often overlooked aspect of asthma, which affects more than two million Australians. As a result, doctors are encouraging people with asthma to seek help with medication and treatment if their sex lives are suffering.
Researchers discovered asthma was impeding romance in other ways too: 37 per cent couldn’t keep up at nightclubs and bars, instead leaving early, while 33 per cent worried about wheezing at the movies or theatre.
The Live, Love Play report – to be launched as part of an interactive awareness campaign today – investigates the debilitating impact of asthma on everyday life.
It was a significant obstacle in family life, with 30 per cent of dads confessing they avoided playtime with their children because symptoms got in the way. More than a third of mums and dads said they’d run around more with their kids if they were able to – and one in six found it hard to carry their child for long.
In the workplace, more than half of sufferers had to take time off because of uncontrolled asthma at least once a year, while 35 per cent of professionals and almost 60 per cent of senior management believed their careers had been held back by it.
The findings highlight the heavy price of uncontrolled asthma, which experts believe can be ameliorated by seeking medical help.
More than 1000 Australians with poor asthma control took part in the survey, which found 29 per cent of men and 18 per cent of women had encountered problems in the bedroom because of their condition.
