The first Tuesday of May is celebrated as World Asthma Day; The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized that asthma is a very important public health problem. When we look at the incidence of asthma; It is estimated that there are approximately 300 million people with asthma in the world. In our country, approximately one out of every 12-13 adults and one out of 7-8 children suffer from asthma. The incidence of asthma has been increasing over the years.
Asthma is a chronic (chronic) lung disease that causes narrowing of the intrapulmonary airways and progresses with exacerbations (attacks). This narrowing of the airways is caused by swelling of the airway wall due to a non-microbial type of inflammation. The disease manifests itself with symptoms such as recurrent shortness of breath, wheezing / wheezing / whistling sound that occurs when breathing, a feeling of pressure in the chest and coughing.
Asthma may be thought of as a contagious infection, but asthma is not a contagious infection. Especially viral respiratory infections (eg cold and flu) can cause asthma attacks. Factors triggering asthma; allergens, occupational factors, smoking, indoor and outdoor air pollution, infections, chronic (chronic) upper respiratory tract diseases (such as colds, sinusitis, nasal polyps), gastroesophageal reflux (GER), psychological factors, drugs and foods.
In allergens; house dust mites, pets, cockroaches, mold fungi, Pollen can be counted. In protection from house dust mites; Increasing the ventilation at home and in the workplace and preventing dampness, choosing leather, artificial leather, wood and plastic instead of fabric upholstered items, using a mask while doing housework, doing an effective cleaning at least once a week with a powerful vacuum cleaner, and then using a damp cloth. It is important to complete the cleaning by wiping it with a cloth or not to use carpets in the house if possible, not to take or remove furry and stuffed toys, and to store unused items in the cabinets. In order to protect from pets, animals are not allowed in the house where there is an allergic person, those who have contact with animals outside should not come home with this clothing, Wearing a mask if contact with an animal is inevitable, and taking special precautions at home if it is not possible to take it away from the house are important protective measures. In protection from pollen; It will be beneficial for the individual not to go out as much as possible during the pollination period of the plant to which the individual is sensitive, to use air filters that trap pollen in houses and cars, to wear masks and glasses outside on days when pollen is high, to keep doors and windows closed during pollen-heavy periods, and to close the windows in the house with fine braided wire. . Smoking is also a factor that causes asthma. The patient's contact with cigarette smoke should be avoided. Gases caused by stoves, furnace fuels, fried oils, air fresheners, paint and polish should be avoided by providing good ventilation. Cleaning should not be done with irritating substances in the home environment (salt spirit, bleach, etc.). Influenza can trigger asthma. For this reason, the annual flu vaccine may be protective. It has been reported that 30-40% of asthmatic patients have obesity and losing weight can improve disease control.
In the treatment of asthma; There is no drug treatment that completely eliminates asthma anywhere in the world. The aim of asthma treatment is to control the symptoms of the disease and to continue the patient's life as close to normal as possible. Asthma symptoms can be controlled with appropriate medication. It is important to avoid the factors that initiate the disease and to use the drugs correctly and regularly. With appropriate drug treatment, asthmatics can continue their daily lives, including work and school, without any restriction due to the disease. Most of the asthma medications are drugs used by inhalation and are given with special devices. At the beginning of the treatment, the way of using these special devices must be shown to the patients.
Factors that make asthma control difficult; These include not using drugs with the correct technique and regularly, as well as exposure to specific triggers such as allergens or general triggers such as infection, cigarette smoke and chemicals. Studies have shown that using the medicines as recommended by the doctor, quitting smoking and losing weight in obese patients, eating a healthy and balanced diet, exercising regularly, and keeping the breathing air clean facilitate the control of asthma. It is important in the well-known misconceptions about asthma; asthma is a childhood disease; It is wrong to think that it will disappear over time, and asthma can occur at any age (children, adolescents, adults and the elderly). The opinion that all asthmatics have allergies is wrong, and about half of asthmatics have allergies. Asthma in children is usually associated with allergies, while asthma that begins in adulthood is less commonly associated with allergies. The idea that asthmatics should not exercise is not true, and if the disease is well controlled, asthmatics can do exercise or even vigorous sports. The idea that asthma can only be controlled with high-dose cortisone is not true, and asthma can usually be controlled with low-to-moderate inhaled cortisone. The idea that asthma drugs are addictive is wrong, and none of the drugs used in the treatment of asthma have an addictive effect, that is, withdrawal symptoms do not occur when the drugs are stopped. Even if the patient does not have any complaints, asthma medications may need to be used for a long time under the control of a physician, since asthma is a chronic disease. Asthmatic patients do not need to follow a special diet unless they have a doctor-diagnosed food allergy. The basic principles of healthy eating also apply to patients with asthma. Weight loss in asthmatic patients with obesity under the supervision of a doctor and dietitian will positively affect the course of the disease. In our country, it has been reported that more than 10% of asthmatic patients are still smoking and 30-40% are obese. Studies have shown that quitting smoking and losing weight in obese patients facilitate the control of asthma. In our country, it has been reported that more than 10% of asthmatic patients are still smoking and 30-40% are obese. Studies have shown that quitting smoking and losing weight in obese patients facilitate the control of asthma. In our country, it has been reported that more than 10% of asthmatic patients are still smoking and 30-40% are obese. Studies have shown that quitting smoking and losing weight in obese patients facilitate the control of asthma.
As a result, asthma is a disease that can be controlled with treatment; Staying away from triggers and risk factors, taking necessary preventive measures and increasing the patient's compliance with treatment are important in the course of the disease.