World Asthma Day today: Excessive diet can be dangerous

The first Tuesday in the month of May is celebrated as World Asthma Day. The complaints of an asthma attack to people following diet plans are increasing though doctors advise them to consume nutritious food instead of taking one time meal, it has come to fore.

As many as 1.80 lakh people die of asthma in the world every year. The number of asthma patients in India is around 1.5 to 2 crore and the percentage of children in the age group of 5 to 12 is 10 to 15 among them. The women are also suffering from this disease and diet plans followed excessively to control their weight is said to be one of the main reasons for this.

Besides this, the increase in pollution levels by various reasons such as flames, smoking, the smoke of fire crackers etc is also held responsible for an increase in the patients with asthma. Asthma is a chronic (long-term) lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways. Asthma causes recurring periods of wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe), chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing.

Asthma triggers: Exposure to various irritants and substances that trigger allergies can trigger signs and symptoms of asthma.

Airborne substances, such as pollen, dust mites, mould spores, pet dander or particles of cockroach waste
Respiratory infections, such as the common cold
Physical activity (exercise-induced asthma)
Cold air
Air pollutants and irritants, such as smoke
Certain medications, including beta blockers, aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen (Aleve)
Strong emotions and stress
Sulphites and preservatives added to some types of foods and beverages, including shrimp, dried fruit, processed potatoes, beer and wine.

Throwing more light on asthma among women, Dr Indu Bubna, lung expert, said that asthma affects women’s hormones. It activates oestrogen during pregnancy and symptoms of asthma get visible. Women during their 40-45 years of age may find symptoms of asthma after their menopause. If a pregnant woman smokes it may affect her child and hereditary asthma problem cannot be ruled out, said Dr Bubna.