There are approximately 10 million people in the country who suffer from asthma, according to a recent survey. This was disclosed by Professor Javaid Khan of the Aga Khan University, at a workshop organised by the AKU in connection with World Asthma Day observed on Tuesday (May 2).
"There is still no definite cure for asthma, but we do, however, have excellent and effective medicines available for people with this condition to live normal lives," he explained.
"People with asthma need to understand that this is usually a long-term condition, present even when there are no symptoms. Unless treatment is taken regularly, permanent damage to the function of the lung can occur," he warned. Low dose of steroids, taken regularly, directly into the airways via inhalers could prevent symptoms, he added.
AKU Associate Professor Dr Nawal Salahuddin, in her presentation, said that asthma patients needed to recognise that most people with asthma would have only one to two hours contact with a doctor per year. "So all patients must acquire the skills necessary to control their own condition, recognise the signs of worsening and know how to alter their therapy themselves to keep well," she added.
Regarding the possible reason for the rise in asthma cases in developing countries, Dr Suleman Haque of AKU said that there was no conclusive explanation why was it increasing.
But house dust, mites, pollution, smoking, industrial waste, change in dietary habits and the changing lifestyle could be some of the reasons that were responsible for the rise in asthma cases, he said.
He stressed the need for a simple lifestyle, and advised against unnecessary use of carpets at homes. He also warned against active and passive smoking, and said that the hazards were immense and that must be controlled at all cost.
Responding to a question, AKU Consultant Chest Physician Dr Ali Zubairi said asthma was not a contagious disease and one needed not worry about contracting it through personal contact or sharing utensils.
He advised the media to play its role in undoing the social stigmas attached to the problem, as asthma was now very much a manageable condition.
AKU Consultant Chest Physician Dr Javed Hussain urged doctors to educate their patients and create maximum awareness among them about asthma and its management. People in Pakistan had serious concerns about using inhalers in asthma and that fear must be removed from the patients' mind, he said. He said inhalers were the safest way of delivery of medicines to lungs, contrary to what was commonly perceived.
In the end, Dr Mohammad Irfan, Assistant Professor, Dow University of Health Sciences, demonstrated the technique of proper inhaler usage to the audience.