June 24, 2024 Author: António Sousa Fernandes Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that affects around 600,000 people in Portugal. Difficulty breathing, coughing, wheezing and a feeling of tightness in the chest are among symptoms that affect asthmatics. As its name suggests, severe asthma is more dangerous and is responsible for a higher number of consultations in hospital emergency services. It occurs mainly in adulthood . Affects around 35 thousand Portuguese people. In severe asthma, symptoms are more severe and persistent and, when the disease is not controlled, crisis can be frequent, with a significant reduction in quality of life. Severe asthma patients have significant limitations in daily activities , with difficulty in carrying out simple tasks, such as taking a shower or climbing stairs. They also have more difficulty achieving adequate disease control , even with an optimized treatment. Knowing when and how to take medications, avoiding symptom triggers, preventing respiratory infections and regularly seeing a doctor is part of the daily lives of people with asthma. Regular medical follow-up Medical follow-up of asthma, with consultations held at least every 3 months , to adjust medication and control risk factors is particularly important when asthma is not controlled. However, anyone with asthma should see their doctor regularly. When the disease is under control, consultations are, as a rule, every 6 months. Asthma treatment is mainly done with inhalers, but there are lifestyle measures that also play an important role. The main objective of medications is to keep the disease under control, quickly relieve symptoms and prevent exacerbations. Medication for severe asthma often includes oral corticosteroids , which have adverse effects, for example high blood pressure, but are necessary to minimize the effects of asthma. In these cases, regular medical follow-up also aims to monitor and control any associated side effects. Maintaining an adequate weight and having a healthy diet are also important. It has been shown that overweight and obese people have more asthma symptoms and more exacerbations of their disease. Practicing physical activity regularly helps the patient to control their weight and achieve better breathing capacity and, therefore, better control of their asthma. Any asthmatic who smokes should stop smoking. It is well known that smoking is associated with worse control of asthma symptoms, as well as being a risk factor for many other diseases. New treatment modalities Meanwhile, pharmaceutical research is developing new treatment options for asthma. Biological therapies are a revolution and are mainly indicated for patients with severe asthma that is difficult to control. These are therapies prescribed at hospital level, generally in a specialized asthma consultation, and which allow for more adequate control in most cases. It is a therapy that helps not only control symptoms, but also reduce exacerbations, visits to emergency services and hospitalizations. Meet the Hospital da Luz Pulmonology clinical team . The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
