Asthma – Oh No Not again. Review on Health Care for Asthma

Ah .umm… what a feeling to have the fresh air beating  into your face, morning dew caressing your hair, smell flowers in full bloom. It is Gods  creation for the benefit of this  small  planet called Earth. You breath in the fresh air and breath out the carbonated air. How is it that the Air, that life giving matter, which we  worship as Vayu deva one of the * panchabhootas* can create such a havoc in ones life.

I was 28 when I got married to the most beautiful girl in my own beautiful compact city, Mysore. Life was full of roses, jasmines, champaks, there was a flower for every occasion, If it was jasmine for Monday it should be tuberose for Tuesday, if it was champak for Wednesday, Thursday heralded chrysanthemams, Friday was never over without the Parijathas, Saturday cried for its marigolds and Sunday solemnly prayed with its roses. It was as if there was never a moment without a flowery scent  in our home.

I always remember what my father always say, Never ever take things for granted,  , Life was so beautiful,  till that day, 10 years after my marriage, when something changed for ever. It was an absolutely entertaining Sunday which had ended as peacefully as it had begun. Suddenly in the middle of the night I heard some strange sound emanating from my wife, it was as if she was whistling deep inside her throat, she was sitting in  C position and was gasping for air  her face had become pale and  lifeless. Though the pain was clearly visible in her deep black eyes, it was just not possible for her to tell me what exactly was the pain she had,  I was terrified to see that she just was not able to stand and walk.

In the middle of the night somehow I managed to find a Doctors residence nearby and  explained to him about the problem my wife was undergoing. The Doctor after examining my wife told me that she had a bout. I did not understand   what exactly it meant. It was later explained to me by the Doctor that my wife had an Asthma attack.

That was my first experience with Asthma. It is a respiratory disease wherein the air inhaled gets clogged in the various tubes( alveoli’s) inside the lungs and cannot come out easily. This creates immense pressure inside the lungs, it is as if a person is pressing your chest with both hands and simultaneously blocking your nostrils and mouth. The whistling sound or the wheezing sound is because of the strain exerted by the air  inside the alveoli’s while exhaling.  Asthma can be due to various reasons, it can be due to allergic response of our body due to certain external agencies like pollen, dust, smoke, cold wind etc., It can also be due to certain food items which are very spicy and certain vegetables also. It has been my wife’s experience that she has this allergic symptoms when we use ladies finger(Bhendi), spinach, spicy items which are rich in oil and off course the master allergent Ice Cream.

For a person who has asthma problem it is always better to make a list of items which triggers allergic response. As far as possible oh.sic., avoid going out in dusty areas( I don’t  know whether such a place exist in Bangalore). Always carry the bronchodilators or more simply put the inhalers. There are as many Doctors who prescribe steroids  as many who are against it. Steroids, if prescribed should  be taken as per the dosage specified, no more or no less. It is the simple things, like changing the bed linen daily, keeping our surroundings dust free, as far as possible, avoiding smoke etc which help in keeping control of the disease. It is a known a fact that asthma cannot be completely cured it can be kept under control. It is just like following the traffic rules strictly help us in avoiding accidents and fines.

After 15 years, The flowers no longer fill our home as it used to earlier, the fragrance  which filled our home has diminished, but I am happy that they have contributed immensely in keeping my wife healthy by staying away my door.