Asthma symptoms and treatment: Why personalised care matters
The treatment of one of the most common chronic diseases globally is advancing, thanks to better understanding and more targeted therapies.
Picture: Pixabay/@CNordic
702's Gugs Mhlungu spoke to Dr Fundile Nyati, GP and Proactive Health Solutions CEO.
Listen to their conversation in the audio clip below.
There's good news for those suffering from asthma.
The treatment of one of the most common chronic diseases globally is advancing, thanks to better understanding and more targeted therapies.
Nyati emphasises that there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to treating asthma, but that it can be managed successfully if you get the right treatment.
"...over the last decade, there's been a reduction in the number of people who are dying from asthma, those who have access to these newer medications called biologic agents."
- Dr Fundile Nyati, GP and Proactive Health Solutions CEO
Asthma is characterised by persistent inflammation of the airways.
Nyati explains that this inflammation can lead to symptoms like wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing, which can worsen over time or become life-threatening.
Asthma has multiple causes and forms.
According to Nyati, it's important to note that asthma is not just a childhood disease, but that it can persist into adulthood and, in some cases, people only get it later in life.
Asthma can run in families, particularly the allergic types that start in childhood and are linked to other allergic conditions like eczema or rhinitis.
Other types, such as eosinophilic asthma, appear in adulthood and aren’t allergy-related.
Environmental triggers like pollen, cold weather, or even pepper spray can spark attacks in sensitive individuals, especially those with allergic asthma, says Nyati.
The key is knowing what type of asthma you have and working with your doctor to find the right treatment plan.
Scroll up to listen to the full conversation