With Asthma emerging as a pandemic in India with northern States particularly witnessing exorbitant rise in number of patients, doctors, on the occasion of world Asthma Day on 1 May, recommend the use of inhalation therapy as device to tackle the menace.
Asthma is a condition which causes breathlessness, wheezing, and coughing and chest tightness. The disease cannot be cured but can be controlled by bringing in a few lifestyle changes.
Experts strongly recommend use of inhalation therapy to improve disease status, control symptoms, reduce the number and severity of exacerbations and improve quality of life. States of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Punjab in the northern part of the country are witnessing the alarming number of Asthma cases and high level of mortality rate due to the disease.
According to an study by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) with over 57 lakh cases, Uttar Pradesh tops the list in prevalence of Asthma cases and mortality rate 22 per 1,00,000 people. Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh also have high level of prevalence with nearly 24 lakh and 21 lakh people suffering with the disease. In Rajasthan mortality rate is even higher than UP at 23 per lakh people whereas in MP mortality rate at 14 is less than compared to neighbouring Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Punjab sees eight people out of one lakh dying because of the disease.
According to the study, in 2016, which sets the alarm bell ringing, three of the five leading individual causes of disease burden in India were non-communicable, with ischaemic heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as the top two causes. Modern devices has made it easy for patients to lead a normal active life and the fear of stigma has been taken over by the health habits' of asthma management.
"Today, inhalation therapy is the mainstay of treatment for asthma. "Inhaled medicines are integral to the management of respiratory diseases like asthma. They deliver drugs directly to the lungs and hence act faster and at a lower dose, thereby reducing the risk of side effects," said Dr Karan Madan, Assistant Professor, Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Sleep Disorders, All India Institute of Medical Sciences.
Dr Madan further said that inhaled medications have been shown to improve disease status, control symptoms, reduce the number and severity of exacerbations and improve quality of life."The experts strongly recommend inhale therapy that can improve disease status, control symptoms, reduce the number and severity of exacerbations and improve quality of life.
"Inhalation therapy remains the best form of drug delivery in asthma as it delivers drugs directly in the lungs. Hence the action is quick & lesser dose is required to improve the symptoms. Since dose required is less, the side effects also are significantly decreased. Inhalation therapy not only treats the patients suffering from breathlessness but also prevents further attacks of asthma," said Dr Sandeep Nayar, Senior Consultant and HOD, Respiratory Medicine, Allergy & Sleep Disorder, BlK Super Specialty Hospital.
These inhalers are handy, easy to carry and patient friendly as they are very simple to use. Patients are advised to carry them in their pockets so that they can be immediately used to overcome asthmatic attacks.