Opinion: Caring for Asthma Patients, Preventing Needless Deaths

On May 5, 2020, the world commemorated a medical condition that strangely remains a silent killer globally yet not much is said about it.

Thankfully, a global think thank, Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) is the first to initiate the commemoration in a specific month to create the awareness and a day to celebrate it.

Thus, on the first Tuesday of May 1998, the first asthma day was marked. Today, Asthma Day is celebrated in most countries on various themes. This year’s theme is, "Enough Asthma Deaths". May 1 to 7 is also Air Quality week.

This year, The Asthma & Allergies Foundation Ghana joined others the world over to commemorate and to create awareness and educate people on this silent killer

The Asthma & Allergies Foundation Ghana is an advocacy body.

Estimates

The Global Asthma Report, 2018, estimates that internationally 1,000 people die everyday due to asthma, with 32 million people affected.

Data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) suggests that asthma is a chronic ailment common in children and is under-diagnosed and under treated with 80 per cent deaths being from low and middle-income countries.

WHO’s data shows that about 1,704 people died in Ghana from asthma in 2017. That calls for action and will necessitate intensive education and awareness.

The foundation is, thus, set to roll out a number of programmes, stalled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Planned gatherings for free asthma screening clinics, workshops with seasoned health professionals to adequately educate the public, visits to schools, churches etc., as well as, on the spot peak flow meter testing, have to be held off for the time being.

However, television and radio panel discussions will be held throughout the month and beyond to discuss asthma experiences, triggers and controls.

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Manifestation

An article on asthma from the Healthsite.com states that asthma manifests itself through frequent episodes of breathlessness, discomfort in chest, cough and wheezing and swelling of the feet in some rare instances.

The narrowing of the windpipe, thus, obstructing air flow to the lungs is the most common symptom of asthma in effect.

Although health experts are yet to specifically point out the factors that cause asthma attacks, genetic factors, smoking, dietary habits, exposure to environmental pollution and toxins are a few of the causative elements or triggers of asthma.

The Foundation will work with the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service, to see how best this ailment can be managed. We are using this medium to plead with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help curb air pollution, since it’s a major factor of triggers.

People should do well to service their cars to avoid unnecessary air pollution. Companies are advised to dispose of their waste properly, since its resultant consequence is catastrophic for asthma patients.

We would also plead with smokers to do so privately. Teachers, nurses, frontline workers across all sectors who love using strong perfumes are also advised to go easy, especially, if they come into contact with children.

Parents are advised to pay attention to any breathing difficulties of their children, particularly, when they breath and there is a whistle-like sound. That is called wheezing. They should report to a medical facility immediately. If it is persistent, ask to be referred to a specialist.

The Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital has specialists that ran asthma clinic days for children and are doing an awesome job.

Unapproved home remedies in the heat of an attack is not useful. They could be good, but might not serve its purpose at that time to open up the windpipe. Garlic, honeys, lime, etc., are all good, but must be taken at the right time. In the heat of an attack, do not ran to a fetish priest or a pastor because the concoction and the scent from the Florida-water and oils might worsen it.

Apply all needed first aids and rush to the hospital that you know has a nebuliser. Prior checks could be made on your own.

Allergies

Parents need to know what they themselves and their children are allergic to, and study the triggers. These could be dust, strong fumes, mold, smoke, cold air, exercise, stress, bugs, pets, pollution, food related allergies, drug related allergies among others.

When that happens, we can avoid unnecessary triggers in this COVID- 19 era, since we do not need our immune systems to break down at all, as that will be detrimental to the health of the asthma patient.

Remember an attack may become life threatening if it is prolonged. Prompt first aid response can help to stop an attack in its tracks. Asthma can be managed.

The writer is the Founder of the Asthma and Allergies Foundation

E-mail: [email protected]