World observes Asthma day
Today is World Asthma Day. It is observed by the Global Initiative for Asthma, GINA every year the first Tuesday of May. This year’s central theme is You Can Control Your Asthma. According to the World Health Organisation, WHO there are about 300 million people suffering from asthma across the globe. About 60,000 people die of asthma in India every year. Asthma is a lung disorder that obstructs breathing and the patient experiences chronic inflammation leading to narrowing of the airway that causes recurrent asthma attacks.
It is also one of the most common non-communicable diseases among children and remains highly un-diagnosed and un-treated. The exact cause of asthma is still undiscovered however in most cases it is linked to hereditary as well as environmental factors.
Asthma usually appears through symptoms like coughing, tightness in the chest, breathlessness and a patient should not neglect these factors and consult a doctor immediately. It is important to diagnose asthma at an early stage as it helps preserve the lungs. Simple tools like peak flow meter are available to diagnose and monitor asthma for everyone.
By using combined airway approach and inhalation therapy, asthma can be fully controlled. But patients should continue taking medication as stopping medication midway can worsen the situation.