World Asthma Day 2021: Know all about Asthma (Symptoms, Prevention & Facts)

World Asthma Day is an annual event, commemorated each year on the first Tuesday in the month of May, in a bid to raise awareness about this disease that affects millions across the world. Organized annually by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), World Asthma Day 2021 has been postponed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On World Asthma Day, checkup camps are set up globally by the GINA while organizations such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) also do their part by setting up medical camps for asthma patients and providing them with free check-ups as well as medicine.

Regular medical check-ups are an essential tool for ensuring that you remain in the best of health at all times. With the best health insurance policy, you are guaranteed to get an annual check-up free, which will enable you to assess the further steps you need to take to ensure you remain fit and healthy. A health insurance policy will also often help you meet emergency financial situations.

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disorder, the progress of which is very important for patients to track. In 1998, GINA organized World Asthma Day for the first time in Barcelona, Spain, with participation by over 35 countries. Since the World Asthma Day 2021 has been postponed, let us do our part to understand the disease.

What is Asthma?

A chronic respiratory disorder, asthma affects the lungs of the patient. In this condition, the airways in the lungs become narrower and swell. Extra mucus may also be produced, which makes breathing difficult and results in bouts of coughing and wheezing, which may manifest as a whistling sound, while breathing out, and even shortness in breath.

The extent of the affliction of the patient due to asthma might differ. For instance, for some people, it may only be a minor inconvenience which results in them having difficulties in performing certain tasks. For others, asthma might be a life-threatening condition that requires them to remain vigilant about its progress and keep updating their treatment plan in consultation with their medical practitioner.

Since asthma cannot be absolutely cured, it is essential to monitor your symptoms and take necessary actions to control and not let its symptoms or effects become too frequent. Recognizing the symptoms of asthma is often the first step involved in beginning its treatment.

Read on to learn about the common symptoms that affect patients suffering from asthma.

1. Experiencing tightness or pain in the chest

2. Shortness of breath

3. Wheezing while breathing out, which is a common indicator of asthma in children

4. Difficulty in sleeping owing to the symptoms mentioned above

5. Attacks of coughing or wheezing, which are made significantly worse by a respiratory virus, such as of the common cold or flu kind

While these symptoms may appear on and off over the years once you have recognized you have asthma, there are ways of keeping these in check. However, if you notice your symptoms worsening, it is best to reach out to a medical professional immediately. Since asthma is often detected in young children, it helps to have a doctor who becomes familiar with the patient history. This often helps maintain a more accurate record of patient history and the different causes that may be affecting them.

If you face the following situations, there is a high chance that your asthma is worsening, and you must seek medical help immediately.

1. If the symptoms are becoming too frequent and hampering your daily routines and functioning

2. Increased difficulty in breathing, which can also be assessed through a device such as a peak flow meter, which measures how well the lungs are functioning

3. A more frequent need to use the quick-relief inhaler

Another reason to immediately consult a medical professional is if you are facing flare-ups of asthma in certain conditions, such as those mentioned below:

1. Heightened symptoms caused due to exercise, such as brisk walking

2. Occupational asthma, which sees symptoms of asthma being aggravated by the environment, such as chemical fumes or even dust. If you are a smoker and suffer from asthma, it is essential that you quit smoking immediately.

3. Allergy-induced asthma is another kind of asthma that refers to flare-up occurring due to airborne substances, such as pollen, cockroach waste, mold spores or even dead skin and dried saliva shed by pets around the house.

If, at any of these times, it seems like your asthma is being triggered more often than normal, it may be time to consult a medical professional. A treatment plan created by them can help you live your life in a regular manner without being hindered by this chronic disorder.

Prevention

Now that you know the different ways in which your asthma could be triggered, it is important to look into the different ways to prevent it from worsening. Asthma attacks can often bring you to a halt in the middle of a routine day, and it is important to learn how they can be prevented to ensure your optimal functioning. On World Asthma Day 2021, learn how you can protect yourself against this dread disease.

1. Stay Aligned with the Medical Plan

A medical professional treating your asthma can help you create a plan regarding the treatment, which could include medication that you must regularly take in addition to a diet chart and other routines that you must inculcate. It is important that you follow this plan carefully and ensure that you take all the steps that your medical practitioner has deemed necessary. Certain medication may be prescribed for regular use while others could be suggested to deal with asthma flare-ups. Make sure to stay stocked up on these in order to avoid running out in an emergency.

 

2. Take Necessary Vaccine

Since different respiratory disorders may cause flare-ups in patients who already suffer from asthma, it is important to take timely vaccinations especially against respiratory disorders, such as pneumonia.

 

3. Identify and Avoid Triggers

Asthma flare-ups can be triggered by a range of situations, including outdoor allergens as well as irritants, which could include chemical fumes, pollen, dust, etc. It is important for you to identity the triggers that cause you to have asthma flare-ups and avoid them carefully.

 

4. Monitor Breathing

An impending asthma attack can be warded off by remaining alert to your condition. Using a peak flow metre, you can measure how hard you are able to breathe out. This will allow you to recognize the warning signs that precede an impending attack, such as through shortness of breath, wheezing or coughing.

 

5. Monitor your Inhaler Usage

A quick relief inhaler is used to immediately ward off an asthma attack. If you notice yourself reaching for an inhaler too often, it may be time to check in with your medical practitioner and enhance your treatment plan.

Conclusion

Having a chronic disease such as asthma can prove to be difficult and even costly, especially considering if you are exposed to environmental or occupational triggers. The best health insurance policy can help you manage the disease better by availing regular medical check-ups and ensuring that financial aid is available when required. Health insurance plans offered by Niva Bupa can be availed at affordable premiums and can ensure that your major expenses, such as hospitalization, doctor consultation, etc. are taken care of.