The number of asthma patients in India has increased in recent times. According to a research, about 50–60 million people are struggling with asthma problem. A 2020 study found that 4-5% of the Indian population suffers from asthma and the number of deaths caused by asthma has also increased. According to a survey conducted in Gujarat, about 4% of the deaths due to serious diseases are of people suffering from asthma. Doctors and experts are worried about why the number of asthma patients is increasing day by day.
According to doctors, pollution, weather changes and food and food are considered to be due to an increase in the number of asthma patients. This is the reason for an increase in the number of asthma patients in recent times.
Increase in air pollution: Air pollution levels are continuously increasing in many cities of Gujarat including Ahmedabad. Especially in winter, when the air remains stable, poisonous gases emanating from dust, smoke and vehicles last longer in the air, causing respiratory diseases. In 2019, Ahmedabad recorded an increase of 30% in asthma cases, mainly due to traffic and industrial pollution.
Sudden change in weather: Sudden declining or increase in temperature, irregular rainfall and increasing cold in winter season causes respiratory problems. In 2024, Gujarat recorded an increase of 83% in respiratory emergency treatment incidence, out of which 26% of cases were from Ahmedabad alone.
Increasing effects in children: Nowadays, the problem of asthma has also increased in children. Subtle particles such as PM 2.5 affect children’s respiratory system more. According to a study, there has been a significant increase in cases of respiratory diseases in children during winter season due to an increase in the level of PM 2.5. Today, physical activities in children have decreased and due to the sedentary lifestyle, the food that children eat due to junk food cannot digest quickly and hence this food is converted to the body and has a negative effect on the body. And it affects their respiratory system. Sometimes children are allergic to something like junk food and cause swelling in their throat, causing the airways narrow and they have difficulty in breathing. If this matter is not taken seriously, then in future children will fall prey to asthma.
Industrial and Vehicle Pollution:
On one hand, the country is progressing, but the development works being done for this progress are also affecting the citizens living nearby. Large industrial units in Gujarat are located in cities like Ankleshwar, Vapi, Vatwa, Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Junagadh, Vadodara, Rajkot and Surat. The disposal of its waste by these industrial units increases the level of pollution even more. People living in these areas have increased in cases of asthma and other respiratory diseases. Despite repeated restrictions by the government on industrial units, they are arbitrarily disposing of waste, causing citizens to cause asthma.
Lack of awareness and self-healing:
Even today many people do not take asthma seriously and start taking medicine on their own. In some circumstances, it can make the disease more severe. According to doctors, asthma can be controlled by appropriate medicines and regular examination, but due to lack of awareness, patients are deprived of proper treatment and in some cases they die.
Treatment becomes more effective when the cause of any problem is known. Due to the increase in asthma, here are given. People should take this disease seriously like cancer and diabetes and should get proper treatment when it is diagnosed.
