Asthma: Cockroaches, cats, smoke are better avoided, says experts

As Nigeria joins other nations of the world to mark the World Asthma Day on Tuesday, experts have cautioned people susceptible to Asthma to shun trigger of the disease such as cockroaches, cats, and smoke.

President, Nigerian Society for Asthmatics, UCH branch, Professor Olusoji Ige spoke at a market rally in Ibadan to commemorate the day and to sensitize on proper asthma management.

The don stated that anything that gives aerosol such as smoke from kerosine stove, dust mites, strong smells, and fryings can cause trouble for asthmatics.

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The consultant chest physician declared avoiding such triggers and adequate use of their medications will ensure they live free of asthma symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness and frequent hospital visits as well as to attain a good quality of life.

Professor Ige stated that asthma prevalence in Nigeria varies from North to South and on the average, about 10.7 percent of Nigerians has asthma.

He added “About 300 million suffer from asthma globally. There is an estimated 250,000 annual worldwide death from asthma. These deaths which occur in those older than 45years old are largely preventable.”

The expert, however, lamented that government was not doing much to support people living with asthma.

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“The country is not really taking care of people who are asthmatic. The inhalers are very expensive and many asthmatics are old. About 20 percent of asthmatics are able to cope with the cost of their medications.”

Mrs Grace Adekoya, an assistant director, public health nursing officer at UCH, Ibadan stressed the need to keep substances with a strong smell like detergents away from the living area to prevent asthmatic attacks.

She urged people to dissuade with symptoms of asthma such as wheezing, difficulty breathing and tightness of chest to visit the hospital early for treatment.

Mrs Adekoya added, “it is not about taking drugs for asthma, it also requires that asthmatics understand the disease and to avoid things that trigger asthma attacks in them so that the disease does not affect their day to day living.”