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More asthma patients in Kochi: doctors

KOCHI: There are more number of asthma patients in Kochi than anywhere else in the State. However, there are fewer experts in the field, said the doctors who have come together to form the Cochin Thoracic Society.

With rising levels of pollution, respiratory tract disease is perhaps one of the most common problems of the populace. And, mostly the new generation is seen to be affected with it. According to the doctors, one among four children is seen to have asthma.

Addressing a press meet on Tuesday —World Asthma Day — with theme titled “You Can Control Your Asthma”, the doctors said modern medicine research has not yet found a cure for asthma but surely it can be controlled and treated for leading a normal life.

It is a disease that is not taken seriously by people, said Dr. K.M. Ramesh Nair, president of the newly formed Cochin Thoracic Society. Neglecting it for weeks and months on end, the patient finally dies because of continued asthmatic attacks that make the lungs very weak.

Each asthmatic attack affects the capacity of the lungs. Hence the idea is to stop such attacks. If a patient regularly sees a doctor and takes medication or inhaler as the doctor advises, asthmatic attacks can be controlled.

There are different types of inhalers, one that prevents an attack and the one that is used at the time of the attack. It is one of the best ways to control asthma in an emergency as the medicine gets sprayed directly to the lungs, the doctors opined.

An asthma patient need not feel that they are ill and cannot take up activities like others, said Dr. Nair. There are a number of people, even in sporting field, who have won medals in spite of being asthmatic.

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