As per WHO, India has an estimated 15-20 million asthmatics. Wold Asthma Day is celebrated on 3rd May every year bears a lot of relevance to Indian population as we form a sizeable chunk of asthma patients. This day is dedicated to raising awareness about asthma, its causes, effects, treatments, and support for people suffering from Asthma.
Asthma is a noncommunicable disease which occurs due to mucous formation blocking the air passage of the lungs by inflaming and narrowing them. It causes shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing. While some people experience mild and tolerable symptoms others have major problems affecting their daily routines. Asthma occurs in children as well in adults. Asthma has no cure but the symptoms can be controlled through medications. If left untreated its severity would increase and lead to respiratory failure.
Causes
Asthma is a combination of genetic and environmental factors. It is caused by various irritants. These irritants can vary from person to person.
Some of the common irritant/allergens triggers are:
- Indoor irritants like animal proteins, dust mites, cockroach waste, fungi
- Tobacco smoke cause respiratory infections like common cold
- Environmental factors like pollution, mold, noxious fumes
- Exercise
- Medications like aspirin, ibuprofen
- Certain preservatives added to food
- Cold air
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Symptoms
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness or pain
- A whistling sound or wheezing while breathing
- Disturbed sleep due to shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing
- An excess cough or wheezing that worsens due cold and flu
Treatment
Treating asthma is easier if the irritant is narrowed down. So, it’s best to observe the pattern of asthma and inform the treating doctor. Most often, asthma people experience pronounced symptoms:
- At night or early morning
- During or after exercise
- During certain seasons
- After laughing or crying
- Exposure to any of the common irritants
Treatment of asthma will not cure the condition but help to provide relief and control the symptoms. Doctors begin their treatment by identifying the symptoms, advising on avoiding them and prescribe medications to keep the symptoms under control and breathing normally. Medications range from quick relief inhalers for the immediate opening of the airways to long-term medications to keep asthma within manageable limits as well as prevent sudden asthma attacks.
Prevention
Prevention is always better than cure. There are few lifestyle changes that can prevent and relieve symptoms. Suggested changes are:
- Using air-conditioners to avoid pollens, dust mites and reduce humidity
- Reduce the accumulation of dust in the house by cleaning the floor and dusting the bed and mattress daily and replacing carpets with wooden floors
- Prevent mold spores
- Reduce pet dander
- Use masks to cover face and mouth to avoid extreme cold or dry air
- Creating awareness of Asthma – World Asthma Day
Sadly, may people are unaware of symptoms and treatment of asthma and continue to suffer. On this World Asthma Day, there are numerous activities and events conducted to address the following objectives:
- Improve care for asthma sufferers
- Identify asthma patients and provide them necessary treatment
- Create awareness of the symptoms and effects of asthma
- Reduce mortality rate due to asthma
- Improvement availability of treatment for asthma sufferers