Many patients feel dependent on their SABA blue inhaler, mistakenly believing this to be the best way to control their symptoms.
Asthma is an inflammatory condition of the airways affecting more than 339 million people globally. In South Africa, more than 20% of children and 10-15% of adults have asthma. For those living with the illness, it can reduce quality of life in varying degrees and it’s not uncommon to be hospitalised during an attack. Despite changes in the approach to treatment and evidenced-based medications to manage the condition, an alarming number of South Africans still die from asthma every year.
“In line with the new global, and locally endorsed asthma treatment guidelines, we no longer prescribe SABA blue reliever inhalers alone as the preferred reliever therapy for mild asthma. Instead, we recommend the use of a low-dose inhaled corticosteroid formoterol therapy as needed, regardless of asthma disease severity. This combination inhaler contains an anti-inflammatory agent which reduces inflammation of the airways and provides controlled relief.
He goes on to explain that chronic control relies on anti-inflammatory maintenance and this applies to all asthma patients - whether their illness has been classified as mild, moderate or severe. He adds that the approach to treatment and management of asthma is almost identical and reducing inflammation is at the heart of it.
Prof Kalla says that this is significant because mild asthmatic patients are regarded as the silent majority of asthmatics. “One could say labelling asthma as mild is a misnomer because you are still equally at risk of attacks.” To educate people living with asthma, and to help them reduce their risk of attacks, AstraZeneca is running the Break Over-Reliance campaign. Asthma patients can assess their levels of over-reliance through a digital assessment tool, known as the Reliever Reliance Test. This evidence-based questionnaire empowers patients to assess their over-reliance on their blue reliever inhaler, SABA, by answering five short questions.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
TikTok Video of Eastern Cape Matric Students Without Parents Leaves South Africans EmotionalSouth Africans were heartbroken because of a matric farewell ceremony in a TikTok video. Learners were walking with parents and some walked alone.
Read more »
WADA flag storm: Boks 'willing to fight' for South Africans back home, says unfazed scrum coachWADA flag storm: Boks 'willing to fight' for South Africans back home, says unfazed scrum coach
Read more »
Mzansi Lady’s R138 SHEIN Car Accessories TikTok Haul Video Captivates South Africans: “Love This”A woman has been trended on TikTok after she shared a video of all the car accesories she bought from SHEIN. Mzansi loved how thrifty she was with the deals.
Read more »
Rica is changing but South Africans' privacy is still at risk - TechCentralParliament was given three years to pass a new law remedying the unconstitutionality in Rica. That deadline is fast approaching.
Read more »
Springboks will fly the flag for South Africans after politicians drop the anti-doping code ballThe South African government has not met a deadline to amend the outdated drug-free sport act to comply with the latest Wada code.
Read more »
Ronwen Williams' plan to get more South Africans to support Bafana Bafana againRonwen Williams' plan to get more South Africans to support Bafana Bafana again
Read more »