Asthma and COPD
Price Water House Coopers, one of the worlds leading consultancy firms in its landmark report Health Cast 2020 : Creating a sustainable future has stated that Disease Management Programme (apart from Immunization & Wellness) will be one of the important element which will create a 360 degree turn in healthcare. This new concept of Disease Management seeks to revolutionalise doctor-patient relationship and empower the patient enormously.
The latest and largest Indian Asthma study, where more that 70,000 people were analyzed and the results were eye-opening: The overall prevalence was 2.38% and those having one or more respiratory symptoms were in the range of 4.3 - 10.5. Internationally, 300 million people are affected by Asthma. It is shocking to note that, 50% of school absenteeism, about 1/3 rd of the work absenteeism are related to Asthma. About 90% of patients require better asthma education and 50% of asthmatic hospitalization and emergency visits can be prevented by patient education and awareness.
Inhaled steroids are the mainstay of treatment and in India more than 90% of the patients are not familiar or have not used them. Only 2% showed inhaled steroids use. Lung Function tests are not being routinely being conducted in 75% of patients. Only 2% of Asthmatics have a Peak Flow Meter, a instrument to be used by every Asthma patient.
COPD:
Asthma is well known by all, but not COPD! In ordinary language, COPD is a lung disease in which airways (wind pipe or bronchi) and lung substances (air sacs or alveoli) are affected due to harmful particle or gases. The most common harmful agent in the world is Smoking. The next commonest is Air Pollution of any kind. This can include among others, burning of wood and other bio- mass fuel, cow-dung, especially in rural areas. COPD mostly occurs in people above the age group of 40 years and above in patients due to smoking or long and severe exposure to air pollution.
COPD is preventable and treatable. It has its harmful-effects outside the lung also. In 1990 ranked sixth amongst all causes of death, now at fourth place, it will become the third leading cause by 2020. COPD is the leading cause of hospitalization in the US.COPD statistics reveal that it occurs in 4.1% above the age of 30 years, with male to female ratio of 1.56: 1 .Occurrence in Bidi smokers is 8.2% and Cigarette smokers 5.9%. Risk factor is higher among men, elderly, poor and urban residents. The exposure is significant to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS).
The management of Asthma and COPD highlights that medications alone cannot cure and control the decline of lung functions. The role of Disease Management Programme through Apollos BreatheEazy Clinic assumes paramount importance. These include Doctors Consultation, Investigation, Smoking Cessation, Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Medication, Psychological, Diet and Physiotherapy Counselling, depending on the disease.
Disease Management Programme is going to be the Central Hub around which future-health-care is going to evolve.
The most common error is thinking that COPD and Asthma are the same, or not knowing what one has. The following details will help:
www.breatheeazy.co.in
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Top 5 killer diseasesby harinemani1,486 views
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