World Asthma Day 5th May 2020

Dr. V. V. Ramana Prasad, Consultant Pulmonologist, KIMS Hospitals, Secunderabad.

Covid 19 corona virus disease as all of us know is a pandemic .It affects all age groups, but people with comorbidities like Diabetes, Hypertension chronic lung diseases, chronic kidney and liver diseases, on chemotherapy, on dialysis and on immunosuppressive medication are prone to get infected with corona virus.

We all know Asthma is a chronic respiratory disorder and patients need to use medication to keep their Asthma under control all the times

All of us are under lockdown and also under lot of stress both physically and mentally, with so much of fear and negativity around us, it affects our health Keep it in mind that stress is one of the triggering factor for Asthma

Asthma can be triggered by both Indoor and outdoor allergens

During this lockdown period Indoor allergens, stress both physically and mentally can become the triggers for asthma exacerbations

So the best way is to keep your Asthma under control by using the controller and preventive meditation

In the current pandemic treatment of an asthma exacerbation will require going to emergency room, where there is a high risk of getting exposed to people with viral infections

Some people are worried about using inhalers with steroid as they are afraid that inhaled steroids can make them more vulnerable to viral infections

Studies done are not favouring that, instead if their Asthma is not under control that can lead to exacerbations, hospitalization and more chance of getting infected with viral infections

So don’t stop your medication, keep away from known triggers, meditate, and maintain social (physical) distance and Hand Hygiene.