Asthma affects 30 million in India; 57,000 lives lost in 2022 alone
May 6 is World Asthma Day
Dr Rudra Prasad Samanta
World Asthma Day (WAD) is organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma, (GINA), a World Health Organization collaborative organization founded in 1993.
World Asthma day is a global event celebrated every year throughout the world on the first Tuesday in May to create awareness among the people regarding the prevalence and management of Bronchial Asthma
The first world asthma day was started in May 1998. This year it will be observed on 6th of May . This year the theme for world asthma day is “Asthma care for all ” which means treatment and management for asthma should be accessible to all people irrespective of caste , creed , sect, color and financial status . It emphasizes the need to create treatment for asthma affordable even for poorer people, , asthma treatment accessible even in remote areas, and create awareness regarding asthma among all people both in urban and in rural areas
Bronchial Asthma is one of the major non communicable diseases seen in children as well as adults and it is the most chronic condition affecting children.
In 2021 as per the global burden of disease , it is estimated that asthma affected about 261 million people and caused 436,000 deaths globally. The global prevalence of asthma was 9.1% in children, 11.0% in adolescents, and 6.6% in adults, according to the Global Asthma Report .
Approximately 3% of India’s population (around 30 million) have asthma , and about 57,000 deaths in India were attributed to asthma in 2022.
Around 10% to 15% of cases that we see in our Pulmonology OPD in Tata Main Hospital are of cases of Bronchial Asthma.
So it is quite prevalent not only globally , but also in India and here in Jamshedpur
What is asthma / Bronchial Asthma ?
Bronchial asthma or commonly known as “asthma” is a chronic lung inflammatory condition that causes narrowing of airway passages in the lungs resulting in symptoms like cough, wheezing , chest tightness and breathlessness. As the disease progresses , the airways become so narrow that sufficient oxygen does not reach the lungs for circulation in our body and this may cause death if not immediately treated .
Therefore the need of the hour is to diagnose asthma early , starting of correct treatment early and continuing treatment as per doctors advise.
As per the theme of this year’s world asthma day “ asthma care for all “ , it is vital to educate everyone regarding the disease , its symptoms , treatment , misconceptions , prevention and when to consult a doctor , and make treatment affordable and accessible for all people irrespective of financial status and location
Symptoms usually include cough for a prolonged period with or without phlegm, wheezing ( whistling sound during breathing) , chest tightness and breathlessness on activity.
Patients with asthma usually present with more than one symptom and the intensity of symptoms vary over time . These variations are often triggered by factors such as exercise, allergen or irritant exposure, change in weather, or viral respiratory infections. Symptoms are often worse at night or in the early morning. Symptoms may resolve spontaneously or in response to medication, and may sometimes be absent for weeks or months at a time. On the other hand, patients can experience episodic flare-ups (exacerbations) of asthma that may be life-threatening.
Allergy (eczema, allergic rhinitis, or food or drug allergy) is the most common cause of asthma in nearly 80% of cases and it runs in family ( genetic predisposition )
Therefore commencement of respiratory symptoms in childhood, a history of allergic rhinitis or eczema, or a family history of asthma or allergy, increases the probability that the respiratory symptoms are due to asthma.
Diagnose of asthma is by symptoms and spirometry test, So if you have the above symptoms then kindly consult a doctor who may then advise you for a spirometry test and diagnose whether you have asthma or not.
Since the disease is because of narrowing of airways of the lungs , the most common medications that are prescribed help in dilating the airways ( bronchodilators ) and help in decreasing the inflammation in the lungs ( anti-inflammatory drugs) . Inhalers are the mainstay of therapy as they act directly on the lungs so are quicker in action and as the drugs are not circulated in the body have minimal side effects.
Education is also required regarding overuse of reliever therapy (example salbutamol inhaler , which acts only for relieving the symptoms and does not control the progression of disease ) and underuse of controller therapy ( example inhalers containing the steroid agent , which controls the progression of the disease)
Measures to avoid progression of asthma:
1.Avoid exposure to asthma triggers like air pollution , dust and smoke cigarettes especially), cold air, strong smells , incense sticks.
2.Stay away from sick people who are coughing so as not to catch infection.
- keep yourself clean, hand hygiene is a must .
4.Keep your surroundings dust and smoke free
5.Take appropriate vaccinations at the right time
6.Do not stop or regulate your medications without doctors advise .
Some common myths and misconceptions surrounding asthma:
- Asthma is infectious : no it is not transmitted from person to person through contact
- Everyone grows out of their childhood asthma : no some may carry it into adolescent and adulthood.
- Asthma is only controllable with high dose steroids: inhalers are the mainstay of treatment. High dose steroids are only required in life threatening condition.
- people with asthma shouldn’t exercise : yes they can , in fact they can do whatever a normal person can do , just ask Amitabh Bachchan , Jessica Alba or David Beckham.
(Author is Senior Consultant and HOD, Pulmonology, Tata Main Hospital. Views expressed are personal.)
