Respiratory diseases are on the rise in Pakistan because of the growing trend of smoking, particularly amongst young people. This was stated by Professor Javaid Khan, Consultant Chest Physician at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKU), while giving a presentation on 'How To Keep Your Lungs Healthy'. Professor Khan was speaking at 'Signs, Symptoms and Care', the University's health awareness programme held in Hyderabad on November 26, 2004.
According to Professor Khan, smoking is currently responsible for over 100,000 deaths annually. "If the surging smoking epidemic is not checked, it is expected that mortality from tobacco use will mount to over 500,000 per year by 2010," he warned, pointing out that smoking is responsible for over 90 per cent of lung cancer cases. He regretted that most people in Pakistan are not aware of the serious dangers associated with smoking. "Smoking is the single largest preventable cause of death in the country. Through will power and use of certain medicines, most people can give up this powerful addiction," he added.
Dr Suleman Haque, Assistant Professor and Consultant Chest Physician at AKU, said that almost 20 per cent of the country's children and 10 per cent of adults in the country suffer from asthma but unfortunately most patients do not receive optimal treatment. "People need not suffer from this condition because with modern treatment almost all asthma patients can lead a normal life," he explained. Responding to a question regarding inhaler use, Dr Haque stressed that the best way of delivering asthma medicines to the lungs is through inhalers, which are also are much safer than injections, tablets or syrups. Dispelling fears about the use of steroids, he said that steroids taken in the inhaled form are very safe and currently the best available medicine for the prevention of asthma attacks.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Nisar Rao, Assistant Professor, OJHA Institute of Chest Diseases, explained that tuberculosis (TB) is a curable disease "provided that patients complete the full six- to eight-month course of medication." Contrary to common belief, anti-TB medicines are safe and do not have major side effects, stressed Dr Rao. Any person suffering from a cough for more than three weeks or fever for over two weeks, or presenting unexplained weight loss or blood-stained sputum, must consult an expert for diagnosis to rule out TB, he advised. "Sputum microscopy remains the key to diagnosing TB," he added, demanding that free and reliable sputum lung microscopy services be available across Pakistan, especially in villages and small towns where people feel particularly distanced from testing facilities.
As part of its outreach programme and societal commitment to creating awareness of early diagnosis and timely treatment, AKU has organised over 150 'Signs, Symptoms and Care' programmes in Karachi, Hyderabad and the UAE, benefiting more than 33,000 people.
Similarly, Aga Khan University Hospital's Patient Welfare Programme reaches out to patients by providing assistance to those patients who are unable to afford the medical cost of their treatment. In 2003, 74% of all patients treated at the AKUH are from low to middle income areas. Since the beginning of this programme over 200,000 patients have benefited from the assistance received from Patient Welfare department and Rs. 1.05 billion have been disbursed through this programme.
