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10 facts about asthma you should know

10 facts about asthma you should know

A recent study stated that the burden of asthma in India is way higher than that of TB & HIV combined.

Written by Pavitra Sampath |Updated : May 5, 2015 2:14 PM IST

May5 is World Asthma Day.

Burden of asthma in India is way higher than that of TB & HIV combined. A recent study stated that India has about ten percent of the global asthma burden. With the disease weakening the lives of many in our country, it is time we took control. Here are 10 facts about asthma you should know:

  1. Asthma is a condition where a person finds it difficult to breathe because the tubes that take air into the lungs swell up. This reaction is caused because the airway comes in contact with an asthma trigger (an allergen) that causes it to swell up.
  2. At present 25% of the Indian population suffers from allergies and 5% of those people suffer from allergies that lead to asthma*. Although the exact percentage of people suffering from the disease is unknown, it is estimated that by the year 2025 an additional 100 million people will be asthmatic world over**.
  3. Common symptoms of asthma are coughing which gets worse at night, wheezing (a whistling sound from the chest when the person breathes), chest tightness and shortness of breath. Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of asthma.
  4. There are two types of asthma depending on the type of trigger - extrinsic and intrinsic asthma. Extrinsic asthma is an immune response to an external allergen such as pollen, animal dander, dust, etc. Intrinsic asthma is caused due to inhaling certain chemical agents such as cigarette smoke, paint vapours, etc. In some cases it may also be worsened by a chest infection, stress, laughter etc.
  5. The most common allergens that cause asthma are pollen, dust, pollution like smoke from vehicles, animal dander, certain smells like that of diesel and petrol combustion, peeling paint and fungus ormouldin enclosed areas. There are mainly two types of reactions a delayedhypersensitiveresponse (where the person experiences symptoms after a long period of time) and an instant hypersensitive response (where the person immediately develops symptoms to the allergen). Some drugs like aspirin and other NSAIDs are also known to cause asthma attacks.
  6. A person can develop asthma at any age, and some researchers believe that it may even be a genetically inherited trait. Young children can suffer from mild asthma, which usually progresses to a more severe form later in life. Doctors have found that women going through emotional stress ormenopause, experience peaks of estrogen levels in their body which leads to the swelling of the airways leading to sudden and severe asthma attacks. This phenomenon can occur in women who have never had asthma all their lives.
  7. There are a number of ways to treat the symptoms of asthma -- allopathic and natural remedies. In the allopathic method the most effective way to treat asthma is to use inhaled medication. There are two types of medicines available relievers andpreventers. Relievers are used in cases of emergency, and are quick acting agents. They are inhaled and help the surrounding muscle relax, allowing the person to breath normally again. Preventersare steroid-based medicines that help asthmatics by reducing the sensitivity of their airways to allergens. Preventers are inhaled directly into the lungs, thereby allowing very little of the steroid into the body itself.
  8. Apart from the traditional inhalers, there are steroid-based tablets that one can take to control asthma. These tablets usually take longer to react in case of an emergency since they are ingested and not inhaled. Having steroid-based tablets to control asthma gives the patient a 50 times greater dose of corticosteroids. Long term use of tablets has serious side effects such as osteoporosis,diabetes, bruising easily, cataract, heart burn andacidity.
  9. It is a common myth that a person cannot die because of asthma that is not true. According to the WHO - of the 300 million people who suffer from asthma, 25,000 of them died due to the disorder in 2005**.
  10. Asthma can be prevented. First identify the causative agent of the asthma. The next step is to follow a desensitization pattern. This means helping the body slowly reduce its sensitivity to the particular allergen with controlled exposure to it. Another way to prevent the disease is to make a few lifestyle changes, like maintaining a healthy lifestyle with a healthy diet and some form of exercise. Lastly, it is important for a patient to follow their doctor s instructions regarding schedule regarding medication and regular checkups.

*Source: Asthma Society of India

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** Source: South Asia network for chronic disease, New Delhi

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