Ludhiana, May 3
The chest unit of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital will organise an asthma awareness programme to observe Asthma Day, here tomorrow.
Under the programme, demonstration of inhalation devices and information regarding management of asthma will be given to OPD patients through various programmes. The aim behind organising the programme is to clear myths about the disease and to spread awareness regarding its right diagnosis and treatment.
The department will also hold a seminar for asthma management for the faculty and medical students. Discussions on different aspects of asthma will also be held. There will also be an asthma awareness quiz, according to Dr Jagdeep Whig, Vice-Principal and Professor and Head of the Chest Unit of DMCH.
According to Dr J. Whig, incidences of asthma are increasing due to various environmental factors. Ludhiana, being the industrial hub, has a large number of children and young adults afflicted with the trouble.
“In children, if asthma is not treated in time it can retard their growth and can lead to serious consequences. The incidences of asthma are higher in children than in adults, which signifies that many children grow out of this ailment by their teenage,” said Dr Daljit Singh, Principal and Professor, Department of Paediatrics and in charge of the Paediatric Chest Disease Speciality OPD.
Dr Whig said a study by the Global Institute of Asthma (USA) had shown that a sudden rise had been found in the incidences of asthma all over the world and the death rate had also increased. It persisted in all age groups and it was more common in blacks and females. He said almost 50 per cent patients visiting the chest OPD of the DMCH were found suffering from asthma.
Dr Whig said asthma was basically an allergic disorder that could be controlled. It could be caused by various factors like stress and changing weather. But the commonest causes were infections, smoke, pollen grains, falling hair of pets like dogs and cats, tobacco, cigarettes, eatables, harvesting, burning of husk and some medicines.
The symptoms of asthma included cough, mucus, breathing difficulty and pain in the chest. “However, if the attack occurs by doing some strenuous physical activity, the person concerned should not give up that activity. In fact, he should take the right treatment side by side and live like a normal person,” he added.
He said some of the best Olympians of the world were asthmatic. “Actor Amitabh Bachchan, is also an asthmatic, but such persons have proved that with right treatment of asthma, a person can achieve his goals in life,” he added. Fabrics weavers, factory workers, smokers and sweepers were more prone to the disease, he said.
