Private Health Hospital Chest Diseases Specialist Prof. Dr. Münevver Erdinç said that Asthma, which is a respiratory disease and estimated to affect more than 300 million people all over the world, is a serious public health problem.
Stating that asthma is seen in 5-7 of every 100 adults and 13-15 of every child born in our country, Prof. Dr. Münevver Erdinç stated that the treatment should be planned under the supervision of a specialist physician.
Speaking about the symptoms of asthma, Prof. Dr. Erdinç said, “Asthma is a disease that causes chronic non-inflammatory edema in the respiratory tract. In asthma, the airways respond to all kinds of stimuli differently than normal people. If this situation, which we call airway hypersensitivity, is not controlled, people; Symptoms such as cough, chest tightness, shortness of breath, wheezing occur. The cough is usually a cough without phlegm, in the form of a tickle, often increasing in the morning. Various factors such as allergies, irritants, exercise, weather changes, respiratory tract infections can cause cough. Mixed with asthma, often found together; Other causes of chronic cough such as upper airway problems, rhinitis, sinusitis, nasal polyps, gastroesophageal reflux should be well evaluated and these should not be overlooked in the treatment plan.
Stating that the treatment of asthma disease differs from person to person, Prof. Dr. Münevver Erdinç said, “The gold standard in the diagnosis of asthma is anamnesis. Where and when the patient’s problems started, whether there are similar problems in and around his family, how these problems improved, should all be questioned very well. With the Pulmonary Function Test, the severity of the disease and attacks are determined. If it is not diagnosed and treated, it can progress to shortness of breath and wheezing. As these symptoms vary greatly from person to person, their severity and response to treatment may also differ. This is my asthma; Differences such as age of onset, triggers, clinical presentation, response to treatment are defined as ‘asthma phenotypes’. Many personal (genetic) and environmental factors are involved in the development of asthma. For this reason, not all asthmatics should be approached in the same way, and ‘phenotype-specific’ diagnosis, treatment and follow-up should be made. Although allergic asthma is the most well-known phenotype, both the frequency and control of asthma has increased in recent years due to non-allergic factors such as changing environmental and living conditions, inactivity, and dietary habits.
