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AKU
Commemorates World Asthma Day - Ten Percent Population in Pakistan
Suffer from Asthma
Asthma is on the
rise in Pakistan and according to estimates up to 10% of the population
is suffering from the disorder, revealed Dr. Fayyaz Hussain, Head
of Pulmonary Section of Aga Khan University (AKU).
He was speaking
at a seminar held at AKU on May 7, 2002, to commemorate the World
Asthma Day. Giving the possible reasons for the rise in asthma in
Pakistan, he added that the modern lifestyle, atmospheric pollution,
smoking, increased use of carpets, were some of the reasons for
the rise in asthma cases in this country.
Professor Javaid
Khan of AKU said that "there are several misconceptions about asthma
and its treatment in Pakistan. Inhalers are the safest way to deliver
asthma medication to the lungs, and these are not habit forming
as commonly perceived by the patients in this country." It is wrong
to think that inhalers are given only in the advanced stage of the
disease, he explained.
Breastfeeding in the first six months of an infant's life protects
him or her from future asthma attacks, said Professor Gaffar Billoo,
Head of Paediatrics at AKU. Regarding smoking he said, "If any
of the parents is a smoker then their children have an increased
risk of developing asthma." He stressed that children should be
protected from environment tobacco smoke at all costs.
Speaking about
the global situation as regards to asthma, Dr. Nadeem Rizvi from
Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre said that there are over 150
million asthmatics worldwide and the prevalence of this condition
is increasing throughout the World. Regarding physical activities
in asthma patients, he said that exercise is beneficial and the
child should be encouraged to take part in sports.
Dr. Sohail Akhtar
from Baqai Medical University said that only 10% of patients in
Pakistan are using inhalers according to recommended methods. He
stressed that doctors should check the inhaling techniques of their
patients on every visit to the clinic. At the end, a question and
answer session was also held with a panel of experts.
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