World Asthma Day is celebrated each year on first Tuesday of May to raise awareness about the disease. In the past it was considered as an incurable disease but thanks to medical science now, Asthma can be controlled with timely
treatment from a qualified doctor.
On the occasion of world cancer day, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital& Research Center (SKMCH&RC) held a press briefing with the journalists. At the occasion, Dr. Faheem Mahmood Butt, Pulmonologist Consultant, SKMCH&RC talked about the reasons, symptoms and latest
treatment technologies of Asthma. According to Dr. Faheem “Asthma is a chronic disease
of the airways that makes breathing difficult. With Asthma, the
re is inflammation
of the air passages that result in a temporary narrowing
of the airways that carry oxygen to the lungs. This results in Asthma symptoms, including coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, tiredness, and difficulty in lactation for kids.”
He saidthat, “In some casesAsthma patient may have a family history
of the disease but in many cases people get it due to different reasons like internal or external allergy, change of weather, pollution, dust, smog and cold breeze. Majorly, there are two ways to deal with Asthma; one is medicine
treatment and the second is carefulness. Asthma patients need to be very careful in their daily routine.They must avoid environmental pollution, smog and should take precautionary measures in changing weather such as appropriate dressing accordingly. Asthma can be controlled with regular
treatment, in other case the negligence could lead to patient to irrecoverable lose. Doctors, mostly re
commend regular use of inhaler to prevent the disease turning into worse condition.”
According to Dr. Faheem Butt,”the
re is different type of Asthma as well that is caused due toallergy;malepatients of this type get rid of it by the time they grow older, whereas
in females it remains with them for life, if not treated well. Second type is without allergy, which usually attacks during childhood and lasts for a long time.”
He further added that “In
treatment of Asthma two types of medicine are used; a mattered dose inhaler and powder inhaler. Scientists are
of the view that inhaler is a more efficient way in the
treatment of Asthma as it has no side effects. The medicine given through the inhaler directly affects the infected areas and does not mix in the blood. It also prevents more damage to the airways. The
re is a misconception about inhaler that it is some sort of addiction. It is totally false; use of inhaler is necessary if re
commended by the doctor.In severe condition of Asthma, patients are nebulized but in some cases medication fails to bring any positive change to the severity
of the disease.”
According to Dr. Faheem, at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Center, “the
re is a well established pulmonary diseases clinic for asthmatic patients. In this clinic there are senior consultants and state-of-the-art technology and equipment to correctly diagnose the problem and the best possible
treatment”. Dr. Faheem said that,” the
re is only one solution of Asthma and that is proper
treatment at right time.”
Published in Daily Times, May 3rd 2018.