February is all about the celebration of love and intimacy, however, some people may not be able to do that as much as they would want to because of a certain chronic disease. It is estimated that about 300 million people in the world suffer from asthma and as such, these people would often have to take a step back in doing strenuous and laborious physical activities. But when it comes to the physical, you can never get more physical than sex.

Does this mean asthma sufferers should also take a step back from sex? How does this chronic disease affect a couple's relationship, much more their intimacy?

For those who have been living under a rock and don't know what asthma is, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, asthma is a chronic condition wherein the bronchial tubes (A.K.A. breathing tubes) are inflamed and narrowed. Furthermore, asthma sufferers can have a severe reaction when exposed to certain substances or "triggers."

Asthma sufferers have had to refrain from doing a lot of things and now, they have to add sex as another activity they struggle with. The charity organization Asthma UK has recently conducted a survey regarding how asthma affects the sex lives of asthmatic people and about 68% of the respondents had said that asthma directly affects their sex lives.

In fact, in a report made by BBC, a female respondent revealed how she and her husband had to put their sex life "on hold" because of her condition. 31-year old Callie Ann shared how she would often start wheezing during the act and would feel like her chest was about to explode as she couldn't get the air out of her lung. Her condition is what made her embarrassed and fearful of having intimacy.

The sad part of it all is that this is a topic often left out, forgotten or entirely overlooked. Asthma sufferers have long been suffering in silence.

46% of the respondents mirrored Callie Ann's revelation and have lessened the frequency of their intimacy while there are also others who had just stopped having sex. Furthermore, 15% confessed that asthma is the cause of their relationships ending. There were even instances wherein sufferers had to be sent to the ER because an orgasm triggered an asthma attack. Asthma UK is hoping that more people speak out on the issue and spread awareness as to how asthma can affect people's relationships.