Of the India’s 1.2 billion population, a large number of people in India suffer from lung ailments. With the quality of air deteriorating day by day, the numbers are growing even further, leading to a significant rise, especially, in the count of asthma patients.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), a whooping 60,000 people in India succumb to the disease every year. This year, the World Asthma Day is themed “You Can Control Your Asthma”, to arrest the trend of asthma menace in people. Before going into the ways to tackle the disease, it is important to understand what it actually is.
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a disorder related to the lungs and is characterized by breathing troubles. A person suffering from the disease experiences shortness of breath as the airways in the lungs, which allow the in-out movement of air from the organ, get inflamed. Due to the inflammation, the airways become constricted and narrowed, causing obstruction in the air movement. This obstructed activity hampers the normal breathing process in individuals and the condition is known as asthma.
Symptoms of Asthma
- Breathlessness/shortness of breath
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Tightness in chest
- Tightness in neck
- Fatigueness
Causes of Asthma
Till date, the exact trigger for asthma has not been determined. The condition, however, is genetical and get exaggerated due environmental factors. The triggers, though, could differ from person to person. Some of them are:
- Air pollution
- Smoking
- Alcohol intake
- Allergens like pollens, dust mites
- Common cold
- Smell of petrol and diesel combustion
- Stress and emotional outburst
- Heavy physical activity
- Allergy to some medications
- Allergy to preservatives in food and drinks
- Obesity
Countering Asthma
It is a fact that asthma cannot be treated, but can be well managed to keep it under control. If the symptoms are ignored and due consultation is not taken, the disease can be fatal. Few things can help the disease from getting severe:
- See a doctor if you come across the above-mentioned symptoms repeatedly.
- Do not ignore unexplained shortness of breath and seek professional guidance.
- If you are asthmatic, be sure of the triggers that can induce breath-related problems. Be wary of the triggers and try to stay away from them. Know well how to handle the situation if you confront the environmental irritants.
- Take your medications as prescribed by your doctor in time.
- Always carry your inhaler with you. Keep it handy so that it can be put to use in an emergency.
- Follow the self-management plan as devised by your physician without fail.
- Keep your near and dear ones informed about your condition, so that they can take appropriate action in case of an emergency.
- Try to keep your weight under control as obesity further aggravates breathing issues.
- Keep your surrounding neat and clean. Dust leads to worsening of asthmatic condition.
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