Ministry of Health Coronavirus Scientific Committee Member, Chest Diseases Specialist Prof. Dr. Tevfik Özlü made warnings about asthma disease and its treatment process on the occasion of ‘7 May World Asthma Day’. Prof. said that the treatment of asthma is possible. Dr. Özlü said, “Asthma is among the most common diseases all over the world. We know that an average of one patient lives in one in every 4-5 houses in our country. It can affect both children and adults.” said.
“ASTHMA-RELATED DEATHS ARE AT YOUNG AGES”
Özlü said, “When asthma is left untreated, it affects the quality of life very negatively. Sometimes it can even lead to death. Unfortunately, deaths due to asthma are deaths at a young age. In this respect, it is much more painful. Asthma is actually a treatable disease. With the treatment options we have today, asthma can be cured.” We can control it and live a normal life like a person without asthma. Of course, it is important to diagnose asthma first. If you have complaints such as shortness of breath, wheezing, cough, and feeling of tightness in the chest, you may have asthma. Especially if these recur from time to time, it will wake you up in the morning. “If you have complaints, it is much more likely that it is due to asthma.”
PATIENT-PHYSICIAN COOPERATION IS IMPORTANT
Stating that the cooperation of the patient and the physician is important in successful asthma treatment, Prof. Dr. Özlü said, “In fact, many patients also have symptoms of allergic rhinitis. It can manifest itself with symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, postnasal drip, and nasal congestion. Asthma is very easy to diagnose. Treatment is also possible and the success of the treatment is very high. When treated well, patients are other normal healthy individuals.” However, for the treatment of asthma to be successful, the patient and the physician must cooperate. The physician must make the diagnosis, identify the trigger factors that may cause asthma, and allergy tests can be performed for this, and as a result, we expect the patient to follow the recommendations, use his/her medications regularly and have check-ups. Compliance with treatment is very important. The most common problem we encounter in patients with asthma is that after starting treatment, they get better and then abandon the treatment, thinking, “I’m fine, it’s over now.” However, asthma is often a chronic disease and requires long-term follow-up and treatment, like hypertension treatment. “Just because we are comfortable in that respect does not mean that your asthma is gone or that the disease has disappeared from you,” he said.
‘THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF A REPEAT’
Prof. also said that not every asthmatic patient will need to use asthma medication for life. Dr. Özlü said, “Continue your cooperation with the doctor and follow his recommendations. Stay away from triggering factors that will harm you. Sometimes factors exposed at work and sometimes medications used can trigger asthma. In some asthma patients, depending on the response received after treatment, the treatment can be reduced and then the treatment can be stopped completely.” However, in some asthmatic patients, there is a possibility of recurrence of symptoms after stopping treatment. It is not possible to predict how asthma will progress in which patient, but the physician must make a patient-specific decision about continuing or discontinuing treatment. “There is no need to use asthma medication continuously for life. Sometimes we have patients who we stop treatment completely and never treat again. Sometimes we stop it and start it again. Sometimes, we have patients where we start and reduce the dose and continue it for a long time.” he said. (DHA)
