On World Asthma Day, which is observed on first Tuesday of May, experts have emphasised for generating awareness on regular lung check ups.
According to the WHO estimates, India has the largest number of deaths due to chronic respiratory diseases in the world. Most number of asthma deaths in the world occur in India, and in deaths due to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) India ranks number two after China.
On World Asthma Day, which is observed on first Tuesday of May, experts have emphasised for generating awareness on regular lung check ups. “India has an estimated 1.5-2 crore asthmatics and rough estimates indicate its prevalence between 10% and 15% in 5-11 year old children,” Dr MK Gupta, senior allergy and asthma specialist at AANCH Hospital said. “At present 25% of population suffers from allergy in our country.5% of them are suffering from asthma and even in developed countries like USA there is 10% increase in Asthma patients every year,” said Dr Gupta.
Severity associated with asthma can be assumed with the fact that, as per WHO world-wide, the economic costs associated with asthma are estimated to exceed those of TB and HIV/AIDS combined. The common symptoms of asthma are coughing, wheezing or whistling noise in the chest, shortness of breath or a tight feeling in the chest. In an asthma attack, the lining of the passages swell, causing the airways to narrow, reducing the flow of air in and out of the lungs. “These conditions are due to inflammation of the air passages in the lungs and affects the sensitivity of the nerve endings in the airways so they become easily irritated,” Dr Prity Sharma at Penguin Pulmo Care said.
“Asthma attacks all age groups but often starts in childhood. It is a disease characterized by recurrent attacks of breathlessness and wheezing, which vary in severity and frequency from person to person,” Dr Sharma added.
Reduction In Flow Of Air
In an asthma attack, the lining of the passages swell, causing the airways to narrow, reducing the flow of air in and out of the lungs
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