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Compliance key to controlling asthma
Do not mix symptoms with the disease, say experts, who add that a large section of asthma patients overestimate their level of control, often aggravating the condition due to the lack of compliance.
By
migrator
migrator
Chennai
Asthma is a common, chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that affects people of all ages. India is estimated to have at least 10 per cent of the global cases. However, while doctors say that the key is in controlling the condition, the compliance rate among patients is often poor. Recently, an Indian Study on Epidemiology of Asthma, Respiratory Symptoms and Chronic Bronchitis (INSEARCH) covering 85,105 men and 84,470 women from 12 urban and 11 rural regions in the country estimated the prevalence of asthma in India to be 2.05 per cent among those aged above 15 years, with an estimated national burden of 18 million asthmatics. However, doctors say that the incidence is anywhere between 2 and 20 per cent in the country.
Symptoms and disease not the same: Dr Prasanna Kumar Thomas, Consultant Pulmonologist, Fortis Malar says that the root of the problem lies in patients mixing symptoms with the disease. He says, “They don’t understand that symptoms are intermittent, while the disease is continuous. Absence of symptoms doesn’t mean absence of disease.” He adds that there is no guarantee of the exact time of remission for a patient, but longer the treatment, the sooner the remission and that for a small portion of patients, there are chances of complete cure.
Myths and misconceptions: Dr K Thiruppathi, pulmonologist, SIMS Hospital, says that with a number of factors triggering asthma like dust, environment and even occupational related, it is important to know what’s modifiable. If the factor is not modifiable, it can be controlled. He adds that there a number of hurdles in treatment, when it comes to asthma. He says, “Though the field of pulmonology has gained significance due to asthma, a large number of people don’t seek treatment due to many myths. They feel that inhalers can be addictive and are wary of the presence of steroids. There are other issues like the inhaler technique. A part of the blame should be taken by some experts too, as they don’t educate the patients about it. People with asthma should understand that inhalers that give relief are different from the ones used for prevention like corticosteroids.”
Bronchial asthma
An overview of how the ailment has affected populations across the world
- Between 100 and 150 million people around the globe, roughly the equivalent of the population of the Russian Federation, suffer from asthma and this number is rising. World-wide, deaths from this condition have reached over 180,000 annually
- In developing countries, however, the incidence of the disease varies greatly
- India has an estimated 15-20 million asthmatics
- In India, rough estimates indicate a prevalence of between 10% and 15% in 5-11 year old children
CAUSES OF ASTHMA
- Asthma cannot be cured, but could be controlled. The strongest risk factors for developing asthma are exposure, especially in infancy, to indoor allergens (such as domestic mites in bedding, carpets and stuffed furniture, cats and cockroaches) and a family history of asthma or allergy.
- Exposure to tobacco smoke and exposure to chemical irritants in the workplace are additional risk factors. Other risk factors include certain drugs (aspirin and other non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs), low birth weight and respiratory infection. The weather (cold air), extreme emotional expression and physical exercise can exacerbate asthma.
- Urbanization appears to be correlated with an increase in asthma. The nature of the risk is unclear because studies have not taken into account indoor allergens although these have been identified as significant risk factors.
- Experts are struggling to understand why rates world-wide are, on average, rising by 50% every decade
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