Lesser Known Facts about Asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways and causes severe obstructions while breathing. You, in most probability, have already heard about the disease. The visual, of an asthmatic suddenly struggling to breathe, followed by administration of medicine through an inhaler, is something with which almost everyone is familiar. However, there are some facts about Asthma which is not very commonly known. We have listed a few below.

Who is at Risk?

The Asthma high risk group includes people with respiratory infections, allergies, eczema and those whose parents are asthmatic. Symptoms of hampered breathing should be strongly monitored, especially in children, as they are the highest risk group. The 2 primary ways, through which Asthma infects, are genetic and environmental. The modern lifestyles have added one more type known as Occupational Asthma.

Cleaner Environments Increasing Allergies

This may come as a surprise for many. Exposure to mud and dust in early periods of childhood may actually help against allergies. With cleaner surroundings, children miss this opportunity and develop intolerance towards allergy causing agents. This is one of the reasons for the increase in the occurrence of Asthma in modern times.

Quitting Smoking Helps

Giving up on the tobacco smoke reduces the chances of developing Asthma. For somebody already infected with Asthma, smoking is an absolute no-no.

Consult a Good Asthma Specialist

Correct diagnosis of Asthma, like most Respiratory Diseases, is not an easy task. The symptoms are almost similar in most cases. Apart from being confused with common cough and cold, we have also seen cases where inexperienced or incompetent doctors have wrongly diagnosed Asthma as “reactive airway disease”. Ensure that the doctor you are consulting is experienced in the field of Pulmonology.

Even as Asthma causes around 250,000 deaths every year, there are also people who have lived a normal life with Asthma. Dr. Himanshu Garg, a Top Asthma Specialist in Delhi & Gurgaon maintains that along with the prescribed medicines, it is also important for the asthmatic to lead a healthy lifestyle.