Rajeshwari Singh Rajeshwari Singh Asked 4 months ago

Can someone with asthma join the military?

My cousin is very keen on joining the military, but she has childhood asthma that is well-controlled with medication. She is concerned that this might disqualify her. Is it possible for someone with asthma to join the military?

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6 answers

Karthik Subramanian Karthik Subramanian Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago
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My father always said that the defense forces have very strict medical rules for a reason. If you have active asthma, they might not clear you, but it's best to consult an army medical officer to see if a waiver is possible.

Gurnam Singh Gurnam Singh Joined Jan 2026 4 months ago

In the old days, our boys with slight coughs would drink warm ginger-tulsi water to clear their chest before recruitment rallies. But military medical exams are very tough now, so do not hide your breathing trouble from them.

Arjun Sen Arjun Sen Joined May 2026 4 months ago

According to most military medical standards, any history of asthma after age 13 is generally disqualifying. My pulmonologist confirmed that even if you haven't used an inhaler for years, the hyper-responsiveness test can still show up positive.

Sonia Verma Sonia Verma Joined Jan 2026 4 months ago

Look, clear cut answer is mostly no. Military training will push you to your absolute limits in dust and cold, and an attack there can be life-threatening. Better to explore police or civil services where medicals are a bit different.

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Consult a pulmonologist

Rajesh Sharma Rajesh Sharma Joined Feb 2026 4 months ago

Before you spend money on coaching classes or travel for recruitment rallies, get a basic spirometry test done at a local government hospital. It costs very little and will tell you exactly where your lung health stands.

Priya Kapoor Priya Kapoor Joined Apr 2026 4 months ago

Normally it's a bit difficult, but if your asthma was only in childhood, you might get a medical waiver! Definitely check the official notification rules online! All the best! 👍

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