About 30 crore people are affected by asthma in the world and about 18 per cent of the population in India
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Chennai: Pollution, weakened immunity, allergy or pollens are not the only factors that cause asthma. Stress can also trigger an asthma attack. In many cases, the affected tend to treat chest tightness, difficulty in breathing and cough casually. But if these episodes repeat, then they indicate a chronic respiratory disorder of the lungs - asthma.
On an average, about 30 crore people are affected by asthma in the world and about 18 per cent of the population in India. Though early detection can restore the health of the person in about three months, delayed treatment can put them on lifelong inhalers. “Asthma is becoming a common malady now. One out of 10 develop this disorder. In many persons, stress appears to trigger asthma among people. Sometimes, gastritis, a running nose, painkillers, dust mite, wall mole, pet animals, cockroaches, fur toys and smoking can aggravate the disorder,” says Dr A. Suresh, consultant pulmonologist, SIMS hospital, here.
Just as blood sugar or blood pressure levels can be controlled with drugs, asthma can be effectively controlled with inhalers, argues Dr K. Rajkumar, consultant pulmonologist, Fortis Malar.
“Depending upon the immunity of the patients, many get better after using inhalers over a period of time,” he says. Inhalation therapy is a commended treatment and asthma can be fully controlled and people with asthma lead a complete active life. Early diagnosis and right treatment plays a crucial role in managing the health of patients and those not under right treatment run the continuous risk of asthma attacks which often requires admission to hospital and can be life-threatening.
About 18 per cent children have asthma
According to Dr R. Sridharan, consultant allergist – asthma specialist, Asthma and Allergy Resource Centre, which has monitored the health of about 3,000 students in city schools and colleges over a period of 10 years, nearly 18 per cent of the students had evidence of reversible airway disease (bronchial asthma). Claiming that awareness was still low among people, he said he proposes to create awareness on the disorder by screening his documentary film – Panithirai (Fog), busting the myths on asthma at Hotel Ashoka in the city on Tuesday, coinciding with World Asthma Day.
Around 35 per cent of schoolchildren in Indian cities suffer from poor lung health, according to a survey released by 'Breathe Blue' and Heal Foundation on the eve of World Asthma Day.
The survey carried out in four cities, revealed that children in Delhi were the worst-affected with 40 per cent of them falling under the category of poor and bad health. In Kolkata, the figure is 35 per cent, Bengaluru, is 36 per cent, and in Mumbai, 27 per cent children are victims.
The survey is a part of Clean Air India Movement and included 2,000 school students in the age group of 8-14 from all parts of the country, aimed at mapping the effects of air pollution on the breathing capacity of young children.
( Source : dc )
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