Berok Zindagi-Inhalers are Right for Asthma

By Samachar Vishesh News

Chandigarh 10^th December:- The 2^nd chapter of the #BerokZindagi campaign, launches multi-media awareness campaign “Asthma ke liye inhalers hain sahi- #InhalersHainSahi” today. The new campaign #InhalersHainSahi focuses on generating awareness and education about asthma besides its appropriate line of treatment with inhalers and continues to inspire patients to live a barrier-free life. The campaign aims to eliminate the stigma around inhalation therapy and make it more socially acceptable by addressing key issues & myths around therapy. This will also help to foster further dialogue between parents and their physicians and highlight that inhalers are suitable for children and for all levels of severity inhalers are not addictive and show better results than oral solutions.

Asthma is a chronic (long term) disease usually characterized by airway inflammation and narrowing of the airways, which can vary over time. It is estimated that in Chandigarh local doctors daily see an average of around 65 patients suffering from asthma/respiratory diseases. The paediatric asthma segment has also seen a significant increase on a year on year basis (doctors reckon they see an estimated 30-35 new cases of children with asthma every month). On an average until date in 2019, while Chandigarh has seen a 45% increase in the number of people suffering from asthma as compared to last year, approximately, one third of population from Chandigarh will develop asthma at some time, mostly before the age of 20. Meanwhile, the number of patients using inhalation therapy has increased in the last few years, an estimated 65% of asthmatics discontinue inhaler use. 

The reasons for the prevalence of asthma in Chandigarh include amongst others air pollution attributed to the increase in air particulate matters, pollen, smoking, food habit, nutritional deficiency, hereditary predisposition and large ignorance amongst parents. The percentage and volume of lung diseases, especially asthma has gone up in Chandigarh especially in Chandigarh. Despite the increasing prevalence, asthma remains one of India’s poorly-controlled diseases.

It is evident that asthma is on the rise in India and there is little awareness about the most effective therapy to offer. With the eminent personalities like Actress Radhika Apte, Celebrity chef Vikas Khanna, Arjuna awardee Badminton player Parupalli Kashyap and Digital influencer Shristi Dixit, the campaign emphasis on the social stigma associated with asthma & inhalation therapy. The campaign emphasis that Inhalation therapy is the foremost and most effective medication for any asthmatic patient compared to oral therapies like tablets and syrups. With inhalation therapy, the drug acts directly on the lungs instead of flowing through the bloodstream and other organs of the body. Thus, there is lesser drug dosage and hence fewer side effects. It is, in fact, the safest treatment option for asthmatics.

Dr. S.K. Jindal, Director at Jindal Chest Clinic and Ex HOD-Pulmonary, PGIMER commented that Inhaler is very important, and it can be measured by the fact 16% of mild asthma patients are at risk for a near-fatal attack. 30-37% of adult asthma patients presenting a severe attack of asthma had mild asthma and 15-20% of adult patients dying with asthma had mild asthma. He added that this is altogether serious enough not to be neglected. Many pieces of research show that children and adults do not adhere well to regular treatment in mild asthma - just 30 % adhere regularly in real-life. Therefore, real-life scenarios suggest that most patients anyways take their inhaler only when required. 

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Shivani Randev, Assistant Professor from Government Medical College and Hospital, said that people should not hide about the fact that they have asthma and it is very crucial to get asthma treated as early as possible with correct medication i.e. inhalation therapy. Timely diagnosis and the right treatment combined with simple lifestyle modifications can help in managing asthma better. Asthma is always easier to control when diagnosed early & with right treatment plan.

Dilip Singh Rathore, Vice President, Cipla highlighted that the first leg of #BerokZindagi was very well received and saw a 14% increase in people’s awareness and acceptance levels for inhalation therapy¹. This campaign intends to continue inspiring millions across India. While positive shifts testify the success, there is much to be done still for people suffering from asthma. These are people unable to live the life they deserve because of misinformation and stigma leading to non-acceptance of the disease and avoidance of inhaler use in public. Hence, we shall continue our work through #InhalersHainSahi.

Further Dr Shivani Randev, Government Medical College and Hospital added that such campaigns are important as they help raise awareness about asthma, along with helping address its psychosocial aspects including stigma, one of the key contributing factors for patient anxiety, delayed diagnosis, denial & limited disclosure of being asthmatic and avoidance of inhaler use in public. The campaign will help spread the word regarding the need for an attitudinal change towards inhalation therapy as the most effective treatment for asthma management vis-à-vis oral medication.