Every year 2nd of May is recognized as World Asthma Day. It is an annual event promoted by Global Initiative for Asthma in order to create awareness on Asthma. Our daily lifestyle and habits have made us vulnerable to many diseases today. Smoking, no physical activity, food habits and environmental factors like dust storm and pollution are making our lungs weak that we have to gasp harder pump air into our body. For most people, this can be the triggering cause of asthma. The first step to identify a lung disease is to do a simple spirometry test or pulmonary test.
In this regard a press meet was organized by Dr.T.Mohankumar, senior consultant pulmonologist, Sri Ramakrishna Hospital and Dr.S.Santhakumar, consultant pulmonologist, KMCH, in order to stress the importance of regular lung checkups for everyone.
Dr.T.Mohankumar said that “Lungs are one of the most important organs in our body; however lung health is a subject that has been sidelined for ages. Asthma is long term disease that has no cure, but can be controlled through inhalers. Many a times, patients stop using inhalers once they feel better which can prove dangerous and affect their breathing. People are very skeptical about using inhalers as there is a misconception that taking inhalers is not advisable. Inhalers are very safe and these days the steroids used in the inhaler do not cause any side effects. The person using an inhaler has to gargle as any particles of the steroids that may settle in the throat while inhaling as it can cause infections. The dosage of steroids of these inhalers should not be more than 800 micrograms per day. One can also opt for nebulizers which help in controlling the disease at a faster speed as the particle size of the medicine is very small and hence easily reaches the lungs.
There are umpteen reasons that could lead to asthma. Exercise induced asthma and occupational asthma are caused due to exposure to various allergens. Coimbatore being an industrial city with lot of foundries, asbestos and cement industries become a breeding place for lung diseases. The Coimbatore respiratory Society is planning to take up research about the number of asthma cases registered in Coimbatore."
Dr.S.Santha Kumar shared that "Asthma can start from childhood and it is most common among adolescents. Out of 100 people, 1 person is diagnosed with asthma. The symptoms include wheezing, breathlessness, and chest tightness and are aggravated during the nights or early mornings due to the metabolic activity. The main reason for asthma is the changing food habits. It can also be genetic. Inhalation therapy is most effective to control asthma and breathlessness. We urge people to do the spirometry or pulmonary tests which is the first step to recognize symptoms of asthma."
Coimbatore Respiratory Society will also be conducting various awareness activities to create awareness about asthma and its treatment on World Asthma Day.
For further information, visit www.breathefree.com, a patient education website which consists of easy to understand and doctor validated information on asthma, COPD and nasal allergies.