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Text Box: What is asthma? Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by recurrent breathing problems and symptoms such as breathlessness, wheezing, chest tightness, and coughing. During normal breathing, air flows freely into and out of the lungs. But when asthma is not under control, the airways of the lungs are thick, swollen, and inflamed. The airways become overly sensitive to environmental changes, and an asthma attack can happen easily. During an asthma attack, the lining of the airways swells, muscles around the airways tighten, and mucus clogs the tiny airways in the lungs, making breathing difficult. Asthma symptoms vary from hour to hour, from day to day, from week to week, and over months. They are often worse at night and in the early hours of the morning. The severity of asthma also varies from individual to individual. Some patients experience occasional symptoms (for example, after strenuous exercise), others have symptoms that interfere somewhat with daily life, and still others have a very severe, relentless disease that almost excludes them from normal school and work activities. How many people are affected by asthma? It is already clear, however, that asthma is a global health problem that cannot be ignored. The World Health Organization estimates that 300 million people around the globe suffer from asthma (1). Asthma is a public health problem for both developed and developing countries. It occurs in all age groups and all ethnic groups. However, asthma often develops during childhood. Indeed, asthma is the chronic disease most commonly causing absence from school. Moreover, the prevalence of asthma is increasing throughout the world. About 10% population of Pakistan has been affected with asthma. Children are affected more than adults. In certain English speaking countries from 25% to 30% children suffer from asthma. What causes asthma? The causes of asthma are not well understood, and the rapid increase in asthma prevalence around the world is one of the biggest mysteries in modern medicine. Some how western life style leads to development of asthma. It is less common in under developed communities. Ten years ago, scientists thought that diesel exhaust and other pollutants might be causing the asthma epidemic. However, they now believe that the picture is more complex. Many scientists are examining the role of genetic factors in causing asthma, and researchers are also looking at how the immune system develops in early life. The causes of asthma attacks, however, are better understood. People with asthma have chronic inflammation in their lungs, and airways that narrow more easily than those of people without asthma in response to a variety of factors. The factors that can set off an asthma attack include inhaled allergens (such as dust mites, pollen, and cat and dog allergens), tobacco smoke, air pollution, exercise, strong emotional expressions (such as crying or laughing hard), chemical irritants, and certain drugs (aspirin and beta-blockers). Each person with asthma reacts to a different set of factors, and identification of these factors and how to avoid them is a major step for each individual in learning how to control their disease. How is asthma diagnosed? A careful medical history, a physical examination, and tests of lung function provide the information needed to diagnose asthma. Measurement of lung function is useful both for diagnosis of asthma and to monitor the course of the disease. Such tests include spirometry, which provides an assessment of airflow limitation, and peak flow, which measures the maximum speed at which air can flow out of the lungs. Spirometry is performed in a health care professional’s office, while peak flow can be tested with portable, plastic peak flow meters ideal for use in home and work settings. Peak flow monitoring provides most patients, together with their health care providers, an effective method to monitor their disease and evaluate their response to therapy. How is asthma treated? Asthma cannot be cured but it can be effectively treated. Treatment of asthma aims at control of the disease, meaning that the person with asthma does not experience asthma symptoms or acute attacks, does not have to use quick-relief medication or visit the emergency room, is able to engage in normal physical activity, including exercise, and has normal lung function. Control of asthma can be achieved in almost all patients, with no side effects from medications, through the implementation of an effective asthma management program. The GINA program includes a six-point plan: Educate patients to develop a partnership in asthma management Assess and monitor severity with measures of symptoms and lung function Avoid or control factors that cause asthma attacks Establish medication plans for long-term management Establish plans for managing asthma attacks Provide regular follow-up care. Two types of medications are used in asthma care: controller medications (especially anti-inflammatory agents such as inhaled glucocorticosteroids) that are taken over the long term and keep symptoms and attacks from starting, and reliever medications (rapid-acting bronchodilators) that work fast to treat attacks or relieve symptoms.: Inhaled corticosteroids are the main stay of asthma therapy. Immunotherapy(vaccination) has very little role in the treatment of asthma. It can only be offered to very few people suffering from asthma and not responding to traditional therapy. Similarly Ketotifen has no role in the management of Asthma.

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Asthma

What IS

· TB (Tuberculoses)

 

· Asthma

 

· Chronic Cough

 

· Chest Allergy

Downloads

           ASTHMA Management (Click Here)

           ASTHMA Control (Click Here)

 

Clinic Timing

Monday - Saturday 07:00 PM to 11:00 PM

 

Take appointment in Advance by Calling

Phone:+92 (0) 42 37800556

              +92 (0) 42 37804388

Mob:   +92 (0) 324 4408544

12– Chanab Block, Allama Iqbal Town (behind Marryland Shadi Hall),

Lahore, Pakistan 54000 (Location Map)

Phone: +92 (0) 42 37800556, +92 (0) 42 37804388,

Mobile # +92 (0) 324 4408544, E-mail: info@lahorechestclinic.com

Lahore Chest Clinic

Email: info@lahorechestclinic.com

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