Is it the air conditioner, or air pollution, or any particular food that has flared up your asthma? Concerned about your asthma symptoms? India is home to 1.5 to 2 crore asthma patients, and at least one in every 10 asthma patient globally lives in India. Considered the most common chronic disease among children, asthma is prevalent in all countries. Research suggests that 90 percent of childhood asthma and 50 percent of adult asthma is caused due to a reaction to environmental allergens like dust, pollen, insects, and domesticated animals. Let us learn how to manage this respiratory condition better and live a healthy life.
Symptoms of Asthma
Asthma is a chronic condition that affects the airways. This is a long-term condition affecting the airways that involves inflammation and narrowing inside the lungs, which restricts air supply. Here are a few common symptoms:
- Chest tightness
- Wheezing
- Breathlessness
- Coughing
- Increased mucus production
An asthma attack occurs when the symptoms become severe. Attacks can begin suddenly and range from mild to being severe. In some cases, swelling in the airways can prevent oxygen from reaching the lungs, this can be life-threatening and needs emergency care.
Common Asthma triggers
Asthma can occur in many different ways and for many different reasons, but the triggers are often the same. They include airborne pollutants, pet dander, dust mites, pollen, foods with added flavour, mold, pests and cigarette smoke.
Asthma Management
With good asthma management, you can lead a normal, active life. Timely adherence to medication as prescribed by your doctor is essential to manage asthma well. The main aims of asthma treatment are to:
- Keep symptoms under control
- Prevent flare-ups
- Keep lungs as healthy as possible
- Fewer days off work or school
- Fewer hospital visits
Playing an active role in managing your asthma treatment will help you maintain better long-term asthma control, prevent asthma attacks and avoid long-term problems. Effective asthma treatment necessitates keeping track of your symptoms, performing tests to determine your lung function and meeting your doctor on a regular basis to change your treatment based on your symptoms.
Myths and Facts
Some common myths about asthma which people believe even today include:
Myth: Asthma medications are habit-forming and dangerous.
Fact: Asthma medications are safe and essential for asthma management. They keep the disease under control, allowing patients to lead a normal active life. The chronic nature of asthma requires a specific routine of long-term medication use.
Myth: People with asthma should not exercise.
Facts: People with asthma are encouraged to lead an active lifestyle including participation in fitness activities. Consult your doctor to know more about the recommended exercises for you.
Myth: Dietary supplements can help ease asthma symptoms.
Fact: There is no proof that specific nutrients help treat asthma. A variety of herbs and supplements have been studied, but none have been found to improve the lung function of asthma patients.
Myth: You can outgrow asthma
Fact: Asthma may improve with age, but it’s a lifelong condition. Asthma symptoms may change over time and become intermittent or disappear, however you do not outgrow asthma.
Tips to prevent asthma attacks
These are some of the steps to help control and prevent an asthma attack:
1. Stay away from allergens which may increase inflammation as much as possible.
2. Take all precautions to prevent cold or flu as these can cause breathing difficulties and make asthma symptoms worse.
3. Quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke.
4. Avoid certain asthma triggers which include- cold air, air pollution, smoke, or fragrances.
Asthma care at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital
Asthma symptoms and severity are always changing and differ from person to person. Meet specialists at our Pulmonary Medicine Department for a detailed asthma management action plan that helps avoid asthma attacks and minimize the disruptions caused by asthma. Apart from reviewing your health regularly, our doctor also helps provide advice for emergency care and ensures that you are well informed about how to use the inhalers correctly. The Department is also equipped with a state-of-the-art Pulmonary Function Testing Lab for comprehensive lung function testing. For further information please visit the below website link: https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/clinicaldepartments/pulmonarymedicine/asthma.html
