Asthma Ghana

06/10/2024

Parental Asthma-Related Knowledge and Asthma Control in their Children in Accra, Ghana

PDF | Asthma ranks among the top 20 chronic conditions for the global ranking of disability-adjusted life years in children and is the most prevalent... | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate

19/09/2024

Parental Asthma-Related Knowledge and Asthma Control in their Children in Accra, Ghana

WUTOR, Victor Collins

1. Asthma Ghana, 120 Couleesprings Way South. Lethbridge. Alberta. T1K 5C5, Canada

2. Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. University of Alberta. 2-35 Medical Sciences Building. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2H1

*Abstract*
Asthma ranks among the top 20 chronic conditions for the global ranking of disability-adjusted life years in children and is the most prevalent chronic condition in children. In the mid-childhood ages of 5–14 years, it is among the top 10 causes. Parental asthma knowledge is a crucial influencer of management practices and disease control. To achieve guided self-management, education is one of the six essential features. Assessing parents' asthma-related knowledge (ARK) is a significant requirement for improving childhood asthma management. The primary objective of this study was to document the ARK of parents of children (0-18 years) with asthma and identify how their knowledge impacts the control of the medical condition in their children in Accra, Ghana. A short questionnaire was designed and implemented to gather relevant information for the study. We also determined the number of children using an asthma action plan. A total of 200 questionnaires were administered. The median age of the children in the study was 10.7 years, with a mean age of 10.0 years. Seventy-one percent of the children were males. This variation is based on the standard population, where asthma in boys is nearly twice as significant as in girls before age 14. Asthma educators should pay attention to the level of education of the parents of asthmatic children. The result indicates a higher level of asthma control in children whose parents have a higher level of education. However, it is concerning that only 17.2% of children had an asthma action plan, highlighting the urgent need for action in this area.

Keywords: Asthma, Asthma Action Plan, Asthma Knowledge, Children, Parents.

01/07/2024

Ghanaian Nurses @ pandemic or another wave of COVID-19!

PDF | This significant study aimed to determine Ghanaian nurses' knowledge, perception, and preparedness for a pandemic or another wave of COVID-19.... | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate

16/02/2024

Asthma and Height/Growth Rate....

Severe and uncontrolled asthma can transitorily impair a child's growth.

Children who use inhaled steroid drugs for asthma end up slightly shorter at their full adult height than children who don't use the drugs.

In a study Published online in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the European Respiratory Society, the findings show that a child's growth slows in the first year of using inhaled steroids, but in later years normal growth resumes. By the time they became adults, children who used inhaled steroids were about half an inch shorter.

However, the well-established benefits of inhaled corticosteroids in controlling asthma outweigh the potential adverse effects on growth.

Use of minimally effective dose of inhaled corticosteroids and regular monitoring of child's height during inhaled corticosteroids therapy are recommended.

*It is important to remember that, asthma can kill your child, but nobody died of being short, and, it is better to be able to breathe than to be half an inch taller.*

*You can become the President of a country or a business if you are short... but uncontrolled asthma may kill you!*

Asthma Cannot Stop Me!
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At Asthma Ghana we help people to breathe so they can live freely. We work with people with asthma, their family and friends, health professionals, researchers and governments.

13/02/2024

Intense Hamatan: Asthma Ghana calls on all Asthmatic Patients to get their inhalers closer to them always live on OTEC 102.9 fm Kumasi story by Kwame Agyenim Boateng

20/01/2024

Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction (Asthma)

Everyone needs to exercise, even people with asthma! A strong, healthy body is one of your best defenses against disease. But some people have asthma episodes during exercise. By taking steps to control your asthma, you should be able to exercise free of symptoms.

What Is Exercise-Induced Asthma?

If you have asthma symptoms during exercise or physical activity, you may have exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. In the past, it was called exercise-induced asthma. But that name wrongly suggests that exercise causes asthma.

Exercise can cause shortness of breath in anyone. If you have exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), your airways become tight and inflamed during physical activity. As many as 90% of all people who have asthma also have EIB. You can also have EIB even if you do not have asthma.

Symptoms of EIB include:

-Cough
-Shortness of breath
-Wheeze (a whistling sound when you breathe)
-Chest tightness or pain

Coughing is the most common symptom of EIB and may be the only symptom you have. Symptoms can range from mild to severe.

The typical timeline for EIB symptoms:

-Start within three minutes of starting exercise
-Peak within 10 to 15 minutes
-Resolve by one hour after stopping exercise

Some people will have a second wave (“late-phase”) of symptoms four to 12 hours after stopping exercise. Late-phase symptoms are often less severe and can take up to 24 hours to resolve.

Causes of EIB

When you exercise, your body demands more oxygen so you breathe faster and deeper. You usually breathe in through your mouth during exercise. Air that you breathe in from your mouth is dryer and cooler than when you breathe through your nose.

The dry and/or cold air is the main asthma trigger for airway narrowing (bronchoconstriction) and inflammation seen in EIB. Exercise that exposes you to cold, dry air is more likely to cause asthma symptoms than exercise involving warm and humid air.

Other triggers that can make EIB symptoms worse include:

-Air pollution
-High pollen counts
-Exposure to other irritants, such as smoke and strong fumes
-A recent cold or asthma episode

Treatment of EIB

Good general health and medical treatment can prevent EIB in most people. If you have EIB, your physician will prescribe asthma medicine for you to take to help you manage your symptoms. You may be prescribed a quick-relief medicine (usually in inhaler form). You would take it 15 to 20 minutes before activity including significant exercise. An example of a quick-relief medicine is salbutamol. It works by relaxing the small muscles that squeeze the airways.

Your physician may also prescribe a controller medicine, as well as other asthma medicines, which aim to control and prevent symptoms.

Asthma Can Not Stop Us!

Visit www.asthmaghana.com for more information.

At Asthma Ghana we help people to breathe so they can live freely. We work with people with asthma, their family and friends, health professionals, researchers and governments.

22/10/2023

ASTHMA TRIGGERS - Emotions and Stress!

Strong emotions and stress are well known triggers of asthma. There is evidence of a link between asthma, anxiety and depression, though the outcomes are sometimes not consistent.

Anxiety and depression may be associated with poor asthma control.

Feeling and expressing strong emotions may cause asthma symptoms if you have asthma. When you feel strong emotions, your breathing changes – even if you don’t have asthma.

Some examples of strong emotions that can trigger asthma symptoms are:

Anger, Fear, Excitement, Laughter, Yelling, Crying.

It is not the emotion itself that causes the asthma symptoms. Instead, your breathing changes during strong emotions. This causes muscles to tighten up or your breathing rate to increase.

Laughing is part of the joy of life and should not be discouraged. If laughter is an asthma trigger for you, talk with your health care provider about your asthma treatment.

Find ways to stay calm and express yourself without yelling. Remember to breathe deeply and slowly when feeling stressed, upset or angry.
Stress and anxiety can trigger asthma symptoms. By properly managing stress, patients can reduce their risk of having a stress-induced asthma attack or episode.

At Asthma Ghana we help people to breathe so they can live freely. We work with people with asthma, their family and friends, health professionals, researchers and governments.

16/09/2023

Oral Corticosteroids for Asthma

OCS stands for oral corticosteroid. This means the medication is swallowed and distributed throughout your body, not just your airways. A corticosteroid is a medication that decreases your body’s inflammatory response. They are used for treating many conditions. You may be prescribed an oral corticosteroid for asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or allergic reactions. Another term for OCS is “glucocorticoid”. Oral corticosteroids may be referred to as “rescue medication” or “steroid tablets”.

An oral corticosteroid may be given in the form of a pill, a liquid, or even intravenously if you are in the hospital. You will usually take this medication for 5-10 days. Children will take OCS medication for a shorter period of time. Types of oral corticosteroids include: Prednisone, methylprednisolone, hydrocortisone

Who uses OCS?
Most people with asthma do not use oral corticosteroids as part of their treatment plan. Oral corticosteroids can be used to treat uncontrolled asthma or in some cases, severe asthma. Oral corticosteroids may also be used in the emergency department when urgent treatment is needed, during or just after an asthma attack. If you have severe asthma, you may be prescribed oral corticosteroids long-term. Your healthcare provider will only prescribe oral corticosteroids if it is absolutely necessary to prevent you from having severe or uncontrolled asthma symptoms.

Approximately 30% of adults with severe asthma are considered corticosteroid-dependent, meaning that chronic OCS are required in addition to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), and other controllers to achieve and maintain control of their asthma.

ICS vs. OCS
Your healthcare provider may have prescribed you an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS). ICS are the most effective anti-inflammatory medications for asthma. Inhaled corticosteroids are taken through an inhaler or nebulizer.

ICS reduce symptoms, increase lung function, quality of life, and reduce the risk of exacerbations and asthma-related hospitalizations or death. These medications are delivered into the lungs and are not designed to circulate throughout your body. There are specific corticosteroids designed for inhalers and these medications are different than the OCS. Types of inhaled corticosteroids include Beclomethasone, budesonide, ciclesonide, fluticasone propionate, fluticasone furoate, mometasone, triamcinolone

ICS Inhaled corticosteroids are taken through an inhaler or nebulizer. The medication is inhaled directly into your lungs and airways. Inhaled corticosteroids are a maintenance treatment for asthma. ICS are taken daily to maintain asthma control for 12-24 hours. ICS treats your lungs and airways only, so the medication does not distribute throughout your body. This means you do not experience harmful side effects that can occur with OCS.

OCS - Oral corticosteroids are taken by pill or even sometimes intravenously to treat severe asthma symptoms or exacerbation. The medication travels through the bloodstream and affects other parts of your body. OCS are typically taken as a short-term medication (5-7 days) for severe, acute asthma symptoms, but can sometimes be used more frequently to treat severe asthma. OCS enter other systems in your body, not just the lungs, so your body is exposed to more medication and there is a higher risk of severe side effects.

Benefits and Risks of Oral Corticosteroids

For decades, OCS have been an important treatment for managing severe asthma, uncontrolled asthma, and acute asthma exacerbations (attacks) in children and adults. However, prolonged use of OCS has severe health implications. OCS use has a cumulative effect on a person over their lifetime, and relying on this form of treatment can cause significant health effects. Even short-term low-dose use of OCS (under 30 days) can result in serious health problems, including:
Fluid retention
High blood pressure
Problems with mood swings, memory, behavior, and other psychological effects
Upset stomach
Weight gain

Longer-term effects include:
Cataracts/glaucoma
Trouble sleeping/disruption of your sleep cycle
Depression, mood disturbances, irritability
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Adrenal suppression (suppression of your body’s stress response) Weight gain
Increased appetite
Heartburn (acid reflux)
Bone loss (osteoporosis)
Thinning of the skin/skin tears/bruising

OCS can be an important and necessary tool for some people with asthma to manage their asthma. However, it is crucial that this treatment be carefully managed, monitored, and supported by an asthma specialist or healthcare provider who specializes in asthma. If you need more than two courses/prescriptions of oral corticosteroids in a year, this is a sign that your asthma is uncontrolled. It is important that you speak with your healthcare provider right away to determine ways to improve your asthma control.

Visit us at www.asthmaghana.com!

10/06/2023

ASTHMA COMORBIDITIES
Part III

An asthma comorbidity is any condition that affects someone while they have asthma. In some cases, asthma comorbidities can worsen a person’s asthma. Although asthma is a chronic condition, its comorbidities range from chronic to acute conditions.

*Respiratory diseases*

Evidence suggests that various respiratory diseases are common asthma comorbidities.

For instance, a review in Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology states that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) occurs in around 17.9% of people with asthma who are over 65 years of age. COPD causes breathing difficulties, coughing, and wheezing.

Similarly, a 2020 study states that although the exact figures remain unknown, asthma is a risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is when an individual stops breathing for extended periods of time whilst asleep.

*Diabetes*

Diabetes is a condition in which the body can not produce enough insulin or does not process it correctly. It can make it hard for someone to manage their blood sugar level.

According to several studies, people with asthma have an increased risk of developing type 1 diabetes. A 2021 review found similar results regarding type 2 diabetes.

*Osteoporosis*

Osteoporosis is when a person has low bone density. This means bones break easily, making people with osteoporosis prone to injuries such as bone fractures. Osteoporosis occurs at a rate of 17.9% in people with asthma who are over 65 years of age.

*Obesity*

Several studies estimate that around 70%of people with asthma also have obesity. It also states that other asthma comorbidities tend to become more common with increased body weight.

Visit www.asthmaghana.com for more information.

At Asthma Ghana we help people to breathe so they can live freely. We work with people with asthma, their family and friends, health professionals, researchers and governments.

27/05/2023

ASTHMA COMORBIDITIES
PART 2

An asthma comorbidity is any condition that affects someone while they have asthma. In some cases, asthma comorbidities can worsen a person’s asthma. Although asthma is a chronic condition, its comorbidities range from chronic to acute conditions.

Anxiety

Asthma is a serious condition. It can cause decreased quality of life and can sometimes be life threatening. Children with asthma can also experience problems with mental health. According to a 2019 study on comorbidities in children with asthma, mental health problems occurred in 71.6%of participants. Anxiety, in particular, may commonly occur in children with asthma.

Gastroesophageal reflux

A major study focusing on children with asthma found that 46.3%of the participants also had gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD). GERD is a form of acid reflux. Acid reflux is when stomach contents, including stomach acid, move upward into the esophagus (food pipe). GERD can be a chronic condition. Its symptoms can include heartburn, nausea, and chest pain.

There may be a cause-and-effect relationship between asthma and GERD. This means the symptoms of one condition may contribute to and worsen the symptoms of the other.

Vocal cord dysfunction

Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) is when the vocal cords do not work correctly. According to a 2020 study, roughly 25%of adults with asthma may also have VCD. With VCD, an individual’s vocal cords close when they inhale instead of opening up. This causes breathing problems that can manifest as shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, or a feeling of choking.

Cardiovascular disease

According to a review, a common asthma comorbidity is cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVDs affect the heart, circulatory system, or both. The review looked into the following CVD conditions: ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, other arrhythmias, heart attack and other cardiac events, stroke, and high blood pressure.

The review authors estimated that, among individuals with asthma, CVD occurs in 3.5% of people between the ages of 18–30 years old. This figure rises to 70.4% in people who are over 65 years of age.

Visit us at www.asthmaghana.com for more information

At Asthma Ghana we help people to breathe so they can live freely. We work with people with asthma, their family and friends, health professionals, researchers and governments.

21/05/2023

ASTHMA COMORBIDITIES *Part 1*

An asthma comorbidity is any condition that affects someone while they have asthma. In some cases, asthma comorbidities can worsen a person’s asthma.

Although asthma is a chronic condition, its comorbidities range from chronic to acute conditions.

Allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is when allergens cause immune responses that affect the nose. This leads to symptoms such as sneezing, congestion, and a runny nose. Allergic rhinitis, or hayfever, is the most common asthma comorbidity, occurring in around 75.8% of asthmatic patients.

Allergic sinusitis

This can cause congestion and pain, and swelling, especially around the forehead, nose, cheeks, and between the eyes. Allergic sinusitis occurs in around 20% of asthmatics. With this condition, allergens cause an immune response that affects the sinuses.

Atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is a skin condition that causes chronic dry skin and rashes. People who have atopic dermatitis may also have very itchy skin. Although its underlying mechanism remains unknown, scientists believe that atopic dermatitis may be the result of an overactive immune system. Several studies have reported that atopic dermatitis, or eczema, occurs in around 27.3% of study participants.

Food allergies

Food allergies occur when someone is prone to immune responses to specific foods. They can cause itchy skin, swelling, and breathing difficulties, among other symptoms. Food allergies occur in about 10.5%of asthmatic patients.

Visit us at www.asthmaghana.com for more information

At Asthma Ghana we help people to breathe so they can live freely. We work with people with asthma, their family and friends, health professionals, researchers and governments.