Asthma

Imagine for a moment what it would be like to find that every single breath you take requires an effort of monumental proportion. Imagine too being unable to climb a few stairs, play badminton or lift a small child because you cannot get enough breath. This is how uncontrolled asthma can affect people’s lives.

Uncontrolled asthma is a serious concern associated with a high symptom burden including disturbed sleep, shortness of breath and increased visits to doctors, which could otherwise be avoided by achieving total asthma control.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 300 million people around the world suffer from asthma with over 80% of asthma deaths occurring in low and lower-middle income countries. In the Philippines, an estimated 12% of the population, children and adults included, suffer from asthma.

What is asthma and how is it treated?

Asthma involves the narrowing of the airways (bronchi) which lead from the windpipe into the lungs.

During breathing, the bronchi carry the air we breathe in and the carbon dioxide we breathe out. In people with asthma, the bronchi are sensitive and slightly swollen. In an asthma attack, the bronchi contract, narrowing the tubes, and therefore the pathway for air to come in and out. The lining of the bronchi also become more inflamed and often, sticky mucous is produced. This makes it much more difficult to breathe, especially when breathing out.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of an asthma attack are difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath and a tight sensation around the throat. An audible wheeze is often heard and sometimes coughing can be the main symptom in children.

Causes

Asthma attacks can be associated with exercise, cold temperatures, or come on at night. They can also be caused by an allergy to triggers such as cat fur or dust mites or pollutants such as cigarette smoke and vehicle exhaust fumes.

Asthma Control

There are several types of medicine that are effective in controlling asthma:
Relievers – these ‘relax’ the bronchi when a person has difficulty breathing
Preventors – these prevent inflammation of the airways
Protectors – act in a similar way to relievers but over a longer period

The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) works with healthcare professionals and health officials around the world to improve the lives of people with asthma. GINA defines asthma control as:

A person who takes the necessary measures to control his asthma would rarely experience symptoms that can otherwise be so debilitating in a person with uncontrolled asthma. In other words they are free to lead normal, active lives uninterrupted by asthma attacks.