STELLA T
As the dusty season intensifies, health experts in Rukungiri have urged all asthma patients to develop and maintain a clear plan for managing asthma attacks.
Aliban Natukunda, the Rukungiri District Health Educator, emphasized the importance of effective asthma control, stressing that asthma is a serious chronic disease that must be managed through a partnership between the patient, healthcare providers, and family members.
According to Natukunda, early signs of an asthma flare-up typically begin with persistent coughing. If not addressed, symptoms can escalate to include severe breathlessness, chest tightness, and difficulty speaking. He warned that asthma triggers are often airborne allergens such as pollen, dust mites, mould spores, pet dander, and cockroach waste particles. Other common triggers include respiratory infections, cold air, air pollutants, and smoke.
Patients are advised not to rely solely on quick-relief inhalers, as these only address symptoms and not the underlying inflammation. Long-term control medications are essential to reduce swelling and mucus in the airways, which are the root causes of asthma symptoms. Frequent use of rescue inhalers, Natukunda noted, indicates poor disease control and should prompt a review of the patient’s treatment plan.
Health experts also recommend that every asthma patient—both children and adults—have a written asthma action plan. These plans should outline daily management routines as well as clear steps to take during an asthma attack. Natukunda advised that plans be regularly updated in consultation with healthcare providers, as asthma symptoms and triggers can change over time.
Given the potential severity of asthma attacks, he further encouraged patients to always carry a rescue inhaler and to use it immediately when early symptoms appear. If symptoms persist or worsen within 20 minutes of using a rescue inhaler, patients should seek emergency medical care without delay.
