Do you take breathing for granted? Your answer would definitely be different if you were suffering from Asthma. Think about this as we observe World Asthma Day today.

Asthma causes disabling symptoms in millions of people who struggle to breathe, making ordinary activities extraordinarily difficult – things like going to school, working at a job, looking after children or aging parents, running or even walking. More than 300 million people in the world suffer from asthma and the number is increasing – 

ASTHMA IS INDEED A NEGLECTED EPIDEMIC!!!!!!  The Global Burden of Asthma Report, indicates that asthma control often falls short and there are many barriers to asthma control around the world. Proper long-term management of asthma will permit most patients to achieve good control of their disease. Yet in many regions around the world, this goal is often not met. The situation in Ghana is no different.

Poor asthma control is also seen in the lifestyle limitations experienced by some people with asthma. For example, in some regions, up to one in four children with asthma is unable to attend school regularly because of poor asthma control. Asthma deaths are the ultimate, tragic evidence of uncontrolled asthma. Sadly, many of these deaths are preventable.

A survey carried out in 2005 on the prevalence rate of asthma cases in Ghana revealed that one out of every 11 pupils, representing 9%, in the country's basic schools was asthmatic, as against one out of every 45 in 2000. This indicates an alarming increase!!

Asthma is a disease that affects your lungs. It is one of the most common long-term diseases of children, but adults can have asthma, too. Asthma causes wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing at night or early in the morning. If you have asthma, you have it all the time, but you will have asthma attacks only when something bothers your lungs.

Does anyone in your family have asthma? Do you have asthma? Can you get asthma from someone? What do you really know about the causes, signs and effective management of Asthma? Can it be cured? Can Asthma affect your pregnancy?

How do you know if you have asthma? How will asthma affect your life? What is an asthma attack and what should you do (or not do) during an attack? What are the common triggers of attack? Is your Asthma being properly treated?

For up to date answers and comprehensive information on Asthma join Nortey Dua on ULTIMATE HEALTH @ 2.05pm as he discusses Asthma will Dr William Ankobiah, Physician-In-Charge at the Bemua Hospital, East Legon, Accra.

Send your questions, concerns and experiences by txt to 1422, on Facebook/Joy99.7 and Whatsapp 0244340437.

Don't miss this program! ULTIMATE HEALTH, YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO HEALTHY LIVING! Every Tuesday @ 2.05pm with NORTEY DUA.

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