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1. Facts aboutasthma
WHO estimatesthat235 millionpeoplecurrentlysufferfromasthma.Asthmaisthe mostcommon
noncommunicabledisease amongchildren.
Asthmaisa publichealthproblemnotjustforhigh-incomecountries;itoccursin all countries
regardlessof the level of development.Mostasthma-relateddeathsoccurinlow- andlower-
middle income countries.
Asthmaisunder-diagnosedandunder-treated.Itcreatessubstantialburdentoindividualsand
familiesandoftenrestrictsindividuals’activitiesforalifetime.
The causes
The fundamental causesof asthmaare not completelyunderstood.The strongestriskfactorsfor
developingasthmaare a combinationof geneticpredispositionwithenvironmental exposureto
inhaledsubstancesandparticles thatmayprovoke allergicreactionsor irritate the airways,such
as:
indoorallergens(forexample,housedustmitesinbedding,carpetsandstuffedfurniture,
pollutionandpetdander),outdoorallergens(suchaspollensandmoulds), tobaccosmoke
chemical irritantsinthe workplace,airpollution.
Othertriggerscan include coldair,extreme emotional arousal suchasangeror fear,and physical
exercise.Evencertainmedicationscantriggerasthma:aspirinandothernon-steroidanti-
inflammatorydrugs,andbeta-blockers(whichare usedtotreathighbloodpressure,heart
conditionsandmigraine).
Urbanizationhasbeenassociatedwithanincrease inasthma.Butthe exactnature of this
relationshipisunclear.
Reducingthe asthmaburden
Althoughasthmacannotbe cured,appropriate managementcancontrol the disease andenable
people toenjoyagoodqualityof life.Short-termmedicationsare usedtorelieve symptoms.
Medicationssuchas long-terminhaledsteroidsare neededtocontrol the progressionof severe
asthma.
People withpersistentsymptomsmusttake long-termmedicationdailytocontrol the underlying
inflammationandpreventsymptomsandexacerbations.Inadequateaccesstomedicinesisone of
the importantreasonsforthe poor control of asthma inmany settings.
Medicationisnotthe onlywayto control asthma.It isalso importanttoavoidasthmatriggers -
stimuli thatirritate andinflame the airways.Withmedical support,eachasthmapatientmust
learnwhattriggershe or she shouldavoid.