World Asthma Day

December 11 - World Bronchial Asthma Day has existed since 1998 It is conducted by the World Health Organization with the support of other medical communities Designed to attract the attention of the public of all countries to the problem of this disease, which is becoming increasingly widespread Over the past decades, bronchial asthma has gone from being a fairly rare disease to becoming a common diagnosis It has been delivered to more than 900 thousand people in the Russian Federation, and to 150 million worldwide The disease develops in half of the cases in childhood, up to 10 years Asthma is a chronic disease Translated from Greek, it means "heavy breathing" This is explained by the symptoms of the disease, such as really difficult, wheezing breathing and periodic attacks of suffocation The course and severity of the disease varies among individuals Symptoms may occur several times during the day, at intervals of several days, only at night, only during physical activity During an attack, the epithelial lining of the bronchioles increases, resulting in narrowing of the airways The flow of air into and out of the lungs is reduced Repeated attacks physically tire a person, causing constant fatigue and insomnia The death rate from bronchial asthma is low, but it significantly reduces the quality of life Only status asthmaticus can lead to death This is a serious complication that occurs as a result of the fact that normal functioning of the respiratory tract is not restored after an attack Another difficulty is the difficult diagnosis of the disease It is often “masked” as pneumonia, bronchitis, cardiovascular disease, or tuberculosis The symptoms are similar, but the treatment required is different Therefore, it is important to consult a doctor at the first sign of asthma They will make a diagnosis and be able to prescribe the correct treatment for a particular case, which will minimize the risk of complications The patient often has to coexist with bronchial asthma throughout his life But the modern level of medicine makes it possible to maintain working capacity, seriously reduce the frequency and severity of attacks, and lead a full, eventful life Anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator drugs are used in treatment They are available in the form of aerosols, solutions for nebulizers and powders for inhalation Short-acting medications are used to relieve symptoms during an attack, while long-acting medications help control the course of the disease The causes of asthma are not yet fully understood An important factor is heredity, ie people at risk are those whose relatives already have or have had cases of bronchial asthma Other risk factors include: 1 Inhalation of airborne particles that may irritate the respiratory tract or cause allergic reactions These are mold, pollen, waste products of dust mites, tobacco smoke, and chemical irritants 2 Unfavorable environmental conditions Increases in overall air pollution levels are leading to an increase in the prevalence of asthma worldwide 3 Cold air indoors and outdoors 4 Strong emotional arousal, constant negative emotions that deplete the nervous system and affect the general condition of the body 5 Excessive physical activity 6 Some medicinal products For example, beta blockers used in the treatment of heart disease, hypertension and migraines, as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs