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Tag: asthma

  • World Asthma Day: Early Detection And Awareness Key, Say Doctors

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    SRINAGAR: Every year world Asthma Day is observed in the month of May and Asthma ‘Care For All’ is the theme that has been chosen byGINA (Global Initiative For Asthama) on the World Asthma Day- 2023.

    Stating that around five to ten percent of population in Kashmir division is suffering from, doctors on Tuesday said Asthm is the third leading cause of deaths worldwide.

    Principal GMC Srinagar Dr Masood Tanvir Bhat said that Asthma and COPD that are chronic lung diseases are the third leading cause of deaths worldwide followed by cardiovascular diseases and Cancer.

    Around 4.5 lakhs of people die worldwide every year due to chronic lung diseases and Asthma is a common disease and is found in around 5-10 percent population including children, he said.

    Asthma cases are more in women than men while around 8 percent people in the adult population have this deadly disease, he said.

    “Asthma is a common long term disease and early stage diagnosis and treatment is very important as it is potentially a life threatening disease and if prevention is taken, it can be kept in control,” he said.

    Head of Department at Chest Disease Hospital Srinagar Dr Naveed Nazir said that myths and social stigmas are associated with this disease and our efforts on this day remain to educate people and spread a message that this disease can be controlled.

    “If it is diagnosed on time, followed by proper patient care the disease can be controlled and threats can be minimized, he said, adding, “It is among the leading cause of deaths worldwide but if such patients take proper precautions, they can lead life like common people.”

    He further said that it is an astonishing fact that in India ten times more deaths are reported due to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease as compared to Western countries. “Around 5-10 percent people in Kashmir are suffering from Asthma,” the doctor said.

    Another expert, Dr Bikram Singh said that deaths due to Asthma are on rise worldwide because people don’t take medicines and they don’t understand how medicines help in its treatment.

    He said that people must take precautions and they shouldn’t hesitate in using inhalers as it is absolutely safe with long term benefits and its side effects are very little.

    “In Kashmir, Asthma cases are more and people need to take medicines regularly,” he said.

    Doctors said that the World Asthma Day that is celebrated every year on the first Tuesday of May month is to increase understanding of the disease’s pathophysiology, promote asthma education, and improve the quality of life for people living with asthma.

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    ( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

  • Air pollution, fast food causing rise in asthma cases in Kashmir: DAK

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    Srinagar, May 2 (GNS): On World Asthma Day, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Tuesday expressed concern over rise in asthma cases in Kashmir.

    “Air pollution and fast food are causing spike in asthma cases in the valley,” said DAK President Dr Nisar ul Hassan in a statement issued to GNS.

    Dr Hassan said the air quality in Kashmir has been constantly deteriorating for the past few years due to the increasing number of vehicles, construction, brick kiln, cement and other factories which emit pollutants and significantly pollute our air.

    “And this is behind rising cases of asthma in the valley,” he said.

    “A study published in British Medical Journal has found that children exposed to higher levels of environmental pollutants are more likely to develop asthma compared to children who were not exposed,” DAK President said.

    “The research showed that for every 5µg-per-cubic-meter increase in concentrations of air pollutants, there was about a 4 or 5% increase in asthma.”

    “Not just what you breathe, what you eat puts you at risk of developing asthma,” he said.

    “According to a study children and teenagers are nearly 40% more likely to have asthma if they eat fast food more than three times a week.”

    Dr Nisar said over the years fast food has largely replaced homemade meals in Kashmir. Children and teens are often seen taking fast foods like burgers, pizzas, French fries and noodles.

    “This change in dietary habits from homemade to processed and convenient foods could be another reason for rise in asthma cases,” he said.

    “There is an urgent need to control environmental pollution to save people especially younger generation from the disease.

    We need to educate parents to encourage their children to eat healthy and avoid fast foods,” he added.(GNS)

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    #Air #pollution #fast #food #causing #rise #asthma #cases #Kashmir #DAK

    ( With inputs from : thegnskashmir.com )