Alternative Medicines and/or Quackery In Asthma?

Need of awareness both on scientific & unscientific drugs.

Dr Vishnun Rao Veerapaneni, Swasa: Allergy-Asthma Center, Hyderabad.

Asthma causes more suffering than any other disease for a long time. Asthma becomes center of anxiety for entire family, friends and relatives. Asthmatics use different kinds of remedies, mostly unscientific. Asthmatics keep on changing doctors and systems of medicine. Asthmatics spend lot of money on quack products with hope of cure but in vain. Asthmatics cann't lead happy life with unscientific drugs.

Asthma is such a disease which takes away all happiness, enthusiasm, social life, family life, mental peace and what not. For them future is bleak and they feel themselves that they are not fit for any work. Finally they get into depression.

Out of suffering they are ready to use anything and most of the times they trap themselves in the hands of quack and they "buy" new problems. Every severe asthmatic wants to die many times he feels like that and they pray god daily that they don't want such miserable life they are ready to end their life many a times they even try and withdraw from that attempt. But why they think like that many people cann't understand except the people who can understand their suffering. But absolutely there is no need to feel like that since excellent drugs are available to treat asthma better than before nowadays. But still lacs of asthmatics are suffering through out the world. Why? Because of ignorance, illiteracy, frustration, suffering and false hope of cure.

Asthma is known for myths and misconceptions for generations both on scientific and unscientific modalities. In asthma- suffering is there for which solution is also there. But the connecting link is miserably missing i.e. Asthma Education. Our main aim of SWASA is to provide asthma education to the sufferers. SWASA is implementing GINA-WHO guidelines in asthma care since 1998 98 % of asthmatics in India are taking wrong treatment for asthma. Only 2% of asthmatics are getting right treatment. Many asthmatics keep on using only relievers i.e. salbutamol (eg. asthalin, ventorlin, vent and so on) they are all spoiling their health. It is not at all scientific way of treating asthma. Not that this drug is dangerous but the indication is wrong. It is only rescue medication and should not be taken many times a day on regular basis for years together. I have seen patients who take asthalin more than 20 puffs for day for decades. This is absolutely wrong. One should take preventer medication on regular basis rather than reliever. Hence many asthmatics says that they are using inhaler but still they are suffering. That means they are using wrong inhaler at wrong dosage for different stage of asthma which might not be properly evaluated by testing. The result is eversion for inhalers. Many people think that inhalers are dangerous, addictive in nature and should be taken as a last resort. This is a myth and misconception. It is like this.

When you put a right key the door is open for you. If you put wrong key it will not open. It is obvious. Just like that until unless you give right medicine in right dosage, asthma never be under control. First we should know the stage of the disease then only we can select the right drug in right dosage. Computerized lung function testing, allergen testing etc. even for small children are available at swasa where the stage of asthma and offending allergen can be made out accurately.

This lock and key treatment is the feature of SWASA: Allergy-Asthma Center.

Symptoms of Asthma: coughing, difficulty in breathing, tightness in chest and wheezing. Itching of eyes,sneezing, skin rashes, sinus problem, tonsillitis, throat clearing etc, these are all co-morbid symptoms.

Asthma Treatments: the best way to take asthma medicines is by breathing using an inhaler device. Two major groups of drugs that control asthma.

	Preventer medicine controls swelling and irritation of air tubes and helps to prevent attacks. This is the key drug in asthma control. To be used on regular basis with appropriate dosage schedule. This drug helps the asthmatics to lead normal life if used properly and regularly. But it is unfortunate that less than 2 % of asthmatics are receiving this essential drug.
	Reliever medicine(eg. salbutamol, mentioned above) opens the narrowed air tubes and gives immediate relief from breathlessness, wheezing and chest tightness. It should be used as rescue medication only and not to be used on regular basis or many times a day. But it is unfortunate that more than 98 % of asthmatics uses only this reliever medication which should not be the case.
	Hence asthmatics need awareness both on unscientific and scientific ways of using drugs. They should know first what to use and what not to use when to use and how to use. This is the one of endeavours of SWASA.
	Inhalers can be used for all age groups including infants, children and pregnant women.
	Inhalers when used properly are very safe and effective medicines.

Get appointment and get rid of asthma suffering. Earlier the better. "Making asthmatics to lead active normal life is the main objective of swasa allergy-asthma center" Liberty, Himayatnagar, Hyd. Ph: +91-40-55839888. eMail: