Asthma patients urged to follow treatment regimen
Avoid allergens and use inhalers correctly to prevent inflammation of airways, doctors say
More than 40 per cent of asthma patients in the Middle East and North Africa region don’t adequately manage the condition, doctors said, calling for better compliance with treatment regimens.
Around 13.5 per cent of the UAE’s population is believed to be suffering from asthma, a chronic disease. Without proper management, asthma can lead to permanent and irreversible symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and general discomfort and irritability, warned Dr Arun Arya, head of the department and consultant pulmonologist at NMC Royal Hospital.
In a few cases, uncontrolled asthma can prove fatal, Dr Zaid Zuomot, consultant pulmonologist at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Respiratory and Critical Care Institute, said.
The doctors’ warnings came on World Asthma Day yesterday, which this year aims to improve awareness about the condition.
There are now new treatments to prevent the inflammation that causes asthma attacks, the doctors added. “Using inhalers correctly can help prevent inflammation. Otherwise, airways that are constantly inflamed can become stiff in a way that is irreversible,” Dr Arya said.
In general, Dr Zuomot also advised residents to cover their nose and mouth during sandstorms, and to have their air-conditioning ducts serviced to avoid the growth of mould.