By according to World organizations health of bronchial asthma suffers about 235 million man in the world . It the most common chronic disease among children – until 14% small patients are experiencing those or other her the symptoms. Behind the last half a century treatment asthma has become more affordable thanks to wide to spread inhalers, however, this areas still highly lot myths that interfere to achieve complete of control above disease.
Myth 1. If the patient is not gasps at he has no asthma
Bronchial asthma – A chronic respiratory disease in which the child or adult actually suffers from recurring attacks of choking and wheezing. However, the severity and the frequency of such attacks varies in different people – he may attack several times day or in a week
In addition, asthma symptoms may include:
- cough,especiallyworseningat night;
- repetitive feeling of tightness inrib cage;
- worsening of breathing symptoms at night, forcing the patient to wake up.
The following circumstances can provoke asthma attacks:
- contact withanimals covered with wool;
- contact withhometickallergen;
- contactwithaerosolchemicals;
- receptionof somedrugs;
- bloomplants;
- changetemperaturesair;
- physicalload;
- tobaccosmoke;
- strongemotional
In order to diagnose bronchial asthma, an examination is conducted, which usually includes:
- study of respiratory function (spirometry);
- allergologicaltests;
- sputum clinical analysis andblood;
- radiologicalresearch.
Despite vivid symptoms, instead of a diagnosis of asthma, doctors on the post-Soviet space is often diagnosed as obstructivebronchitis “and prescribe antibiotics and antitussive drugs that are ineffective in asthma and even dangerous.Before Recently, the diagnosis of “ predastm ” was also common , which is absent in international classification of diseases.
All of this “lubricates” the true statistics of the disease in Russia.By According to specialists, the number of patients with bronchial asthma is at least 5-6 times more than the registered number of patients with this disease – about 1.4 million people.
Myth 2. COPD – it’s just a smoker’s cough
Indeed, the most common symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – this is a chronic cough with pathological sputum and dyspnea.These symptoms are caused by obstruction. – narrowing of the small airways – and, accordingly, violation of the movement of the air flow from lung, which gradually progresses if the patient is not gets adequate treatment.According to experts, in 2030 COPD will be the third leading cause of death in the whole world.
By As the disease progresses, daily physical activity, such as an increase in the stairs.Proper treatment allows you to monitor the patient’s condition and prevent loss of vital lung function.
Main cause of COPD – tobacco smoke, in including passive smoking. Also affects the development of the disease air pollution – both atmospheric and indoors
The diagnosis of COPD is confirmed by a simple test called spirometry, which shows how much air a person can inhale and exhale and how fast can air enter lungs and go out of them.
Myth 3. If a patient uses an inhaler, then treatment of bronchial asthma and COPD under control
It is important to remember that asthma and COPD cannot be cured, but disease control and slow down its development.Indeed, the main treatment for bronchial asthma and COPD – inhalation therapy.The use of inhalers allows you to deliver the active substance in the smallest and distant parts of the lungs cut in dozens of times the dose of the active substance and avoid side effects.
However, the practice of treating asthma and COPD is not enough to develop an effective active ingredient and put it in inhaler: the doctor must choose the most suitable device for the patient, teach them enjoy as well also at patient should be encouraged to take the drug regularly.
Only with the confluence of all these circumstances is control of the disease achieved. AT Europe and USA this happens around 50% of cases in Asia – only 23% of patients with bronchial asthma.
Schools help have better control of the disease and patients online information platforms. Digital devices are already being developed that remind the patient of the time of inhalation of the drug and controlling the correct technique of its use, – they will become indispensable assistants to asthma patients the future.
Myth 4. All inhalers are about the same.
AT present on the market exists 5 types of inhalation devices that are used to treat asthma and COPD:
- dosedaerosolinhalers(DAI);
- breathable aerosol inhalers;
- dosed powder inhalers (PDI),single-doseandmulti-dose;
- “Soft”aerosols;
- nebulizers.
Powder inhalers have several important advantages: portability, compactness, convenience, relative ease of operation. They are distinguished by high and stable pulmonary deposition of the drug: more 40% of the metered dose falls into the lungs of the patient. This is due to the fact that with the use of multi-dose powder inhalers, the patient does not need to coordinate inhaling and activation of the inhaler , and quality of operation of the inhaler in less dependent on the severity of airway obstruction and strength of the patient’s breath.
Also, by According to a number of studies, powder inhalers – the smallest percentage of errors during inhalation, which is not more than 18%. Have aerosol inhalers, this figure can reach 80%.
BUT which inhalers are preferred by the patients themselves? By research data, the most preferred parameters such as:
- simplicity inuse;
- easy to understand instructions forapplication;
- no need to put the drug indevice before use;
- the possibility of prolonged use of the inhaler;
Now on a large number of new drugs to combat asthma and COPDIt is very important that when registering such medicines, features of generics , the manufacturer was able to prove not only efficiency and the safety of the active substance but and equivalent characteristics of an inhalation device
Myth 5. You can always change one inhaler to other
Alas: when moving from single inhaler on other (even with one and by that active substance) the frequency of critical errors increases dramatically due to improper handling of device as well the effectiveness of therapy is reduced in 1.5 times warns
From inhalation device is not dependent only the effectiveness of the active ingredient of the drug, but and patient readiness for long-term treatment, which is necessary to maintain the quality of life of patients with asthma and COPD