Bangalore has one of the highest incidences of asthma in the country and is also referred to as the asthma capital of the country with 25 per cent of cases reported from the city. In 2005, six lakh people were diagnosed with asthma in the city. The primary cause of the condition is pollution, which increases the allergic conditions in the respiratory tract. An increasing number of children are becoming patients of this condition.
On World Asthma Day observed on May 1, the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) in collaboration with healthcare groups and asthma educators attempt to raise awareness about asthma and improve asthma care throughout the world.
Asthma is a disease of the lungs in which the airways becomes blocked or narrowed causing breathing difficulty. Many factors trigger asthma, like pets, dust, pollens, active and passive smoking. Some people also react to mosquito coil and other fumes as well. However, not all the asthma attacks are triggered by allergy, emotions can also trigger asthma. Identifying allergens, staying away from them as far as possible, and keeping oneself warm can ward off most asthma attacks.
The key to controlling asthma is taking appropriate medicine at the earliest possible sign of the disease. But the alarming fact is that only 12 per cent of the asthmatics in the city take appropriate and judicious medication. Basically all asthmatics should take a combination of preventives and relievers to alleviate them from the symptoms of this extremely disabling disease.
According to Dr Padma Sundaram, respiratory medicine consultant, Manipal Hospital, Bangalore, "Asthma is a genetic disease that starts from repeated colds leading to breathlessness. Effective treatments for asthma are available that can enable people who have this common respiratory disease to live full and lead active life." Our Department of Respiratory Medicine is equipped with spirometry and other facilities for the diagnosis and management of asthma.
One in every four children report wheezing disorders. According to recent findings, one-third of the children studying in schools located in heavy traffic zones suffered from respiratory problems compared to one-tenth who stayed and studied in less polluted areas.
"Unplanned development of the city, lack of infrastructure, changing lifestyle and increasing pollution have seriously affected the people of Bangalore especially children who are increasingly suffering from problems like asthma. Urgent steps are now needed to check this so that people of this city can lead a healthy life", said Dr Isaac Mathew, Respiratory Medicine Consultant, Manipal Hospital. |