Asthma is a serious lung condition that makes breathing difficult. According to the World Health Organization, asthma affects around 300 million people worldwide. It is estimated that 250,000 people die from the disease every year. Furthermore, more than 500,000 people are hospitalised.
Asthma occurs when the tissue lining the airways to the lungs begins to expand or swell. This makes the airways smaller. The muscles in the airways also tighten. Cells in the airways also produce too much of a thick, sticky substance called mucus. This mucus causes the airways to close even more. This makes it difficult for air to flow in and out of the lungs.
This series of events is called an asthma attack. As asthma sufferers struggle to breathe, they may cough repeatedly. They may also produce a whistling or squeaking sound when they breathe, known as wheezing. Some asthma sufferers experience chest tightness or pain. They describe it as feeling as if someone is sitting on them. When asthma is at its most severe, a person may find it extremely difficult to breathe. The disease can severely limit a person’s activity and can even be fatal.
Doctors do not know what causes asthma. However, researchers believe that a combination of environmental and genetic factors may be responsible. Forty percent of children with parents who have asthma will also develop the disease. Seventy percent of people with asthma also have allergies. Allergies are abnormal reactions of the immune system to otherwise harmless substances.
Doctors have identified many things that may trigger an asthma attack. These triggers cause the airways of people with asthma to swell. Different people are affected by different triggers. One of the most common triggers is allergens. These airborne impurities cause allergic reactions. Common allergens include animal fur, dust, mould and pollen.
Pollen is a fine dust produced by grasses, trees, and flowers. Mould is a type of fungus. It can grow on walls and floors in homes. It is commonly found in wet or damp areas such as bathrooms, kitchens and basements. According to a study by the Environmental Protection Agency, twenty-one percent of asthma cases in the United States are linked to mould and dampness in homes.
Air pollution can also trigger asthma. Cigarette smoke is a major problem for asthma sufferers. So is air pollution caused by cars. Chemical sprays such as air fresheners, hairspray, household cleaning products and strong perfumes can also trigger an asthma attack.
Some people cough, wheeze or feel out of breath during or after exercise. They are said to suffer from exercise-induced asthma. Breathing in cold air during the winter can also trigger asthma symptoms. So can colds and other respiratory infections.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than twenty-two million people in the United States suffer from asthma. Among adults, more women have the disease than men. Asthma affects over seven million children each year, making it one of the most common childhood illnesses. It is more prevalent among boys than girls.
According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the disease affects African Americans more than whites. African-American children die from asthma at a rate five times higher than white children.
Special English reporter June Simms has a 13-year-old son with asthma. Arick first showed signs of the disease when he was about two years old. He had a bad cold that seemed to last longer than usual. It was very difficult for him to breathe. When his mother listened to his chest, she could hear the characteristic wheezing sound. Arick was diagnosed with asthma during an emergency visit to the doctor.
The doctor prescribed albuterol for Arick. This helps to relax the muscles in the airways of the lungs, increasing airflow. The doctor also gave Arick a special machine called a nebuliser. This is attached to a mask which was placed over his mouth and nose. The nebuliser turns the liquid albuterol medicine into a mist. Arick inhaled the mist through the mask. These treatments made it easier for him to breathe. During times when his asthma was particularly severe, he was also given steroids to reduce the swelling in his airways.
As he grew older, his doctor replaced the nebuliser with a small medical device called an inhaler. He also started seeing a doctor who specialises in treating asthma patients. This doctor said Arick was ‘a poor perceiver of his asthma’. This meant that he had difficulty realising when it was out of control. She advised his parents to use a special device called a peak flow meter. This measures the amount of air Arick can push out of his lungs. This can help him realise he is having a problem before he experiences any symptoms.
The doctor also found out that Arick suffers from allergies. He now takes daily medication to help keep his asthma and allergies under control. In 2005, he successfully completed the American Lung Association’s Open Airways for Schools programme. Arick is now considered an expert in asthma management. He has not been to a hospital emergency room because of asthma for more than two years. He is also using his inhaler much less frequently.
Asthma has become a major health problem around the world, affecting individuals, families and economies. The annual economic cost of asthma is close to twenty billion dollars.
The World Health Organization says that asthma rates are increasing worldwide by an average of 50% every ten years. The largest increase has been among children.
The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) was established in 1993 to draw attention to the growing problem of asthma. It also aims to improve asthma care worldwide.
GINA is a collaboration between the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization. In 2004, GINA released a report called ‘The Global Burden of Asthma’. The report revealed that asthma is not just a growing problem in industrialised countries. It is also increasing in developing countries.
The report suggests that asthma rates in developing countries increase as they become more westernised. It estimates that an additional 100 million people may have asthma by 2025.
While asthma cannot be cured, it can be successfully managed. This year, GINA’s World Asthma Day campaign was once again called ‘You Can Control Your Asthma’. The organisation launched the campaign in 2007. Its aim is to demonstrate that the majority of asthma patients can manage the condition with the right treatment. GINA says that several simple steps can help people to control their asthma.
Firstly, people should take their asthma medicines exactly as their doctor instructs. Most people need two types of medicine. One type is a quick-acting ‘rescue’ medicine, which is taken as needed to stop asthma symptoms. The other is a preventive medicine, which is taken daily to prevent symptoms.
People should identify the triggers of their asthma symptoms and try to avoid them. For example, they should try to avoid animals with fur, dust, pollen from trees and flowers, and cigarette smoke. Some people may need to take their medication before exercising or doing strenuous activity.
Patients should work with their doctors to manage their condition. They should attend regular check-ups, even if they are feeling well. It is important that they understand how and when to take their medication. They should also act quickly to treat asthma attacks and know when to seek medical help.
