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

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.