Due to air pollution the number of asthma patients is on the rise, and the number in Bhubaneswar alone is around 1 lakh, said Consultant Pulmonary Medicine Dr Manoranjan Dash and DDCB Paediatrician Dr Susrut Das at a press meet here on the occasion of the World Asthma Week which began on Friday.
While the major causes of asthma are rise in vehicular pollution, dust, cold, besides mental depression, about 10-15 per cent of total aged population and 5-10 per cent of children are particularly vulnerable to the disease, said the doctors, adding that one of the serious problems is that many patients have no idea that they are suffering from asthma.
The doctors said that full control over asthma possible and a patient can lead a normal life through inhaler therapy. “In 1956, MDI (Metered Dose Inhaler) was applied for therapy. It started a new revolution for asthma treatment and patient feels immediate comfort from asthma and that was safe also. In took six decades to bring changes in the mindset of people about inhalation therapy for asthma,” they said.