Aligarh, May 4: The Department of Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases, J. N. Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University organized a camp on World Asthma Day.
More than 200 patients were registered and about 50 new cases of Asthma were diagnosed in the camp. Dr Rakesh Bhargava, Chairman, Department of TB and Chest Diseases said that the patients of asthma who do not take their treatment regularly are at the great risk of asthma attacks which often requires admission to hospital and can even be life threatening.
The most effective asthma treatment – inhalation therapy, is available in India at a price as low as Rs. 4 to Rs. 6 per day, which means that a year’s supply of medicine is less than the cost of 1 night’s stay at the hospital. However, Prof. (Dr.) Zuber Ahmad stated that the lack of awareness on asthma in India prevents it from being diagnosed in the early stages and of the 30 million asthmatics in the country, most are unaware, undiagnosed or are being sub-optimally treated for asthma.
Dr. DK Pandey said that Asthma is a chronic respiratory disorder of the lungs in which there is inflammation (swelling) of the airways in our lungs. Dr Mohammad Shameem said that it has been found that adherence to asthma medication regime is very poor and tends to falter every after few months in both children and adults.
Commenting on the current scenario of asthma in India, Dr. Bhargava said, “Asthma is a chronic disease which requires long-term treatment. Many patients once they feel better stop treatment after some weeks. This can be dangerous since stopping treatment can lead to reactivation of the disease and precipitate an asthma attack. There are many reasons why patients stop medication. These include unnecessary concerns about side effects, myths about inhaler devices, social stigmas and sometimes cost of medication. There are also several psychological barriers which lead to inhibitions such as dissatisfaction with health care professionals, inappropriate expectations, anger about one’s condition, underestimation of severity of the condition and complacent attitude towards health It is important that we overcome these barriers and understand the importance of inhalation therapy if we have to control asthma.”
Dr. Zuber Ahmad said, “It is important to diagnose asthma at an early stage as it helps preserve the condition of the lungs. Asthma usually manifests itself through symptoms like coughing, tightness in the chest, and wheezing but it is important to consider asthma as a diagnosis particularly if these symptoms are recurrent and consult a doctor at the earliest. Using currently recommended treatment, asthma can be fully controlled and persons with asthma can lead a complete active life.”
To further support asthma patients and their families in understanding asthma, its symptoms, the triggers, and to remove the myths associated with the condition and its therapy, an extremely informative website – www.breathefree. com was also launched on this occasion. This website will ensure that a chronic condition like asthma is discussed and given importance not only on World Asthma Day but round the year.
All the faculty member of the department including Senior Residents, Junior Residents, Research Assistants, Senior Research Fellows actively participated in the camp.
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