By Andrea Hargraves The National Asthma Day, which is celebrated on Monday, June 21, seeks to raise awareness about the symptoms of the disease and ways to prevent it, especially at this time when the Covid-19 virus is spreading, noted Matto-certified pulmonologist Clovis Botelho. Grossoside Clinica Vida.
Asthma is a risk factor for the most serious attack caused by the new coronavirus. In the face of asthma, COVID-19 can cause serious complications, the doctor explained.
When a person is inflamed and infected with a virus like this, the damage is much greater, the lesions are larger, deeper, and the recovery time is longer. The chances of complications, including infectious, are much greater, because there is already chronic inflammation, and if you get acute infection on top of this chronic inflammation, it enhances all the destructive power of the virus, and then we have to watch out for secondary. infections”.
In addition to using alcohol gel, masks and washing hands properly to avoid influenza viruses, such as the novel coronavirus, Botelho comments that there are ways for asthmatics to have a good quality of life.
The first step is to avoid exposure to airborne irritants such as strong odors, mold, poison, and smoking, both passive and active. In addition to healthy eating, physical exercise is also important.
“The best exercise is the one you love to do. It can be swimming, walking, jogging, gym, dance, yoga, physical therapy, Pilates, something to strengthen the muscles, especially the respiratory system, that should be done. There is no way not to do it” .
Finally, Clovis Botelho points out that vaccines are also what improve the quality of life for asthmatics. Annual flu, influenza or pneumonia vaccinations, which can be single-dose or periodically according to medical advice.
disease control
The doctor emphasizes that the treatment is called asthma management, as there is no cure for it, but it can be controlled. The treatment of Clóvis Botelho is based on three main pillars. The first is to clean the environment to avoid dust, irritants, strong odors, mold, and things that irritate even those who are not sick and irritate even the most sensitive. Asthma patients are characterized by excessive sensitivity to environmental changes, especially pollution.
“It’s worth noting at this point that fires are going to break out, and smoke from the environment is very aggressive on the airway of an asthmatic, because it’s very sensitive.”
The second pillar is to develop a treatment plan for asthma awareness. Dr. Clovis Botelho emphasizes that the patient should know the disease, know the symptoms, note if the condition is getting worse, and know what actions to take. The physician in charge of the case should provide detailed instructions to the patient.
Finally, we have the third pillar, which is drugs. Asthma cannot be cured but is under control. The vast majority of clinical illnesses are not curable, we control diabetes, high blood pressure, rheumatism, psychiatric illness… So the problem is not whether there is a cure or not, the problem is finding a solution to the problem, and it is there.”
Since it is an inflammatory disease, anti-inflammatory drugs are used to combat asthma. Clovis Botelho, part of the Clínica Vida Diagnóstico e Saúde team, mentions in Varzia Grande, bronchodilators, which open the airways and improve shortness of breath, and inhaled corticosteroids.
Treatment, i.e. dosage and type of medication should be directed by a specialist. The dose will of course change over time, but the treatment is lifelong.