Asthma: Subtle signs, triggers to avoid — doctor
MANILA, Philippines — Chronic coughing can be a manifestation of Asthma.
Dr. Maria Janeth Samson, Head of the Institute of Pulmonary Medicine at St. Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City and President of the Philippine College of Chest Physicians, talked to Philstar.com at the recent Agham Kapihan.
Agham Kapihan is a series of media roundtable discussions on health issues. The forum is supported by pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.
Subtle signs
Dr. Samson added that some cases are misdiagnosed.
"Some asthmatic patients may not know what their symptoms are, you know, chronic cough or coughing can be a manifestation of Asthma. So, most of them are misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed," Dr. Samson told Philstar.com.
Dr. Samson shared that mild asthmatic patients are the most difficult to diagnose. Some of them experience "coughing on and off," or in Filipino, "samid-samid."
The doctor also said that when these patients have infection, their cases usually last longer.
"Usually kasi 'pag viral illness, mga five days lang in a patient who is healthy, wala na," Dr. Samson noted. "This one lingers on those are subtle signs of asthma. 'Pag hindi na siya nawawala, that's one of the differentials."
The doctor stressed that having hypersensitive airways can also be a sign of Asthma.
She argued that many people are exposed to dust, air pollution, but asthmatic patients would react differently.
"I always tell my patients that we're all exposed to pets, we're all exposed to dust, and pollution, and lahat tayo nagkakaroon ng ubo. 'Yung asthmatic patient, mas OA (overacting)," Dr. Samson said.
Controlled asthma
Asthma is a condition that does not go away, said the doctor. An asthmatic patient, however, can go on living without medications.
According to the 2017 Global Asthma Report for the World Health Organization, 12% of Philippine population or 90 million have Asthma.
The Global Asthma Report added that approximately 11 million or 1 out of 10 Filipinos are suffering from Asthma. About 98% of Filipino Asthma patients continue to lack proper treatment, it added.
"There are times that there will be a period in one's asthmatic life na pwedeng walang gamot. Controlled siya kahit walang gamot.
"So, hindi ibig sabihin na porke may Asthma ka, your medications will go for life na 'yun. Pwedeng as needed na lang. You need control but kailangan mong malaman kung ano 'yung ibig sabihin ng control," said the doctor.
Avoid triggers
Dr. Samson said that for asthmatics, it is not enough to take medicines. They must always avoid their triggers, which can include dust, furs from pet and pollution.
She added that inhalers are not going to be effective without proper inhaler technique.
"Kaya iba-iba 'yung inhaler. It will depend on what suits best the patient. So, it's also about proper inhaler technique," she said.
Dr. Samson said these are important reminders to patients who are managing their Asthma.
Their organization will have a series of activities leading to the World Lung Day on September 25.
"'Yun ang advocacy namin: clean air, healthy lungs for all Filipinos," the doctor ended.
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