Make Breathing Easier | The Benefits Of Physiotherapy In Asthma Prevention And Management

Asthma World Day is celebrated on the first Tuesday in May every year to raise awareness about asthma and its impact on people's lives. Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that affects millions of people around the world, causing difficulty in breathing, wheezing, coughing, and other symptoms. This year's theme is "Asthma for All," which aims to highlight the importance of universal access to effective asthma care and management. One of the important ways to achieve this goal is through the role of physiotherapy in managing asthma.

Preventing Asthma
The first step in preventing asthma is to understand its causes. Asthma is a complex disease with multiple causes, including a family history of asthma or allergies, exposure to environmental pollutants, such as smoke, dust, and chemicals, respiratory infections, obesity, stress, etc. By identifying and addressing these risk factors, we can reduce the likelihood of developing asthma. Some of the ways in which we can prevent asthma include:

• Managing symptoms: People with asthma can manage their symptoms by taking their medication as prescribed, avoiding triggers, and monitoring their symptoms.
• Reducing exposure to environmental pollutants: We can reduce our exposure to pollutants by avoiding smoking, using air purifiers, and using natural cleaning products.
• Maintaining a healthy weight: Obesity is a risk factor for asthma, so maintaining a healthy weight through regular exercise and a balanced diet can help prevent asthma.
• Managing stress: Stress can trigger asthma attacks, so managing stress through techniques such as meditation and exercises can help prevent asthma.
• Vaccinations: Vaccinations can help prevent respiratory infections that can lead to asthma.
• Creating asthma-friendly environments: Schools, workplaces, and public spaces can be made more asthma-friendly by reducing exposure to environmental triggers and providing access to medication.

Physiotherapy for Asthma Management
The primary goal of physiotherapy in asthma management is to improve lung function, reduce symptoms, and improve the quality of life for people with asthma. Physiotherapists use a variety of techniques to achieve these goals, including:

• Breathing Exercises: Physiotherapists teach breathing techniques, such as diaphragmatic breathing and pursed-lip breathing, which can help people with asthma breathe more efficiently and reduce shortness of breath.
• Airway clearance techniques: Physiotherapists teach airway clearance techniques, such as coughing and postural drainage, which can help remove mucus and other secretions from the airways.
• Exercise: Physiotherapists design exercise programs that are tailored to the individual needs and abilities of people with asthma. Exercise can help improve lung function, reduce symptoms, and improve overall fitness.
• Education: Physiotherapists educate patients about asthma, its causes, and its triggers. They also provide guidance on how to manage symptoms and prevent asthma attacks.
• Support: Physiotherapists provide emotional support to people with asthma and their families. They can help people with asthma cope with the emotional and psychological impact of the disease.

Benefits of Physiotherapy in Asthma Management
Physiotherapy can provide several benefits for people with asthma, including improved lung function, reduced symptoms, improved exercise tolerance, and improved quality of life.

• Improved lung function: Physiotherapy can help improve lung function, which can lead to reduced symptoms and better quality of life.
• Reduced symptoms: Physiotherapy techniques can help reduce symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
• Improved exercise tolerance: Physiotherapy can help improve exercise tolerance, which can help people with asthma stay active and maintain their overall health.
• Reduced hospitalizations: Physiotherapy can help reduce the need for hospitalizations and emergency room visits, which can be stressful and expensive.
• Improved quality of life: Physiotherapy can help improve the quality of life for people with asthma, by reducing symptoms and improving overall physical and emotional well-being.

World Asthma Day 2023's theme of Asthma for All emphasizes the need for universal access to effective asthma care and management. This means that everyone, regardless of where they live or their socio-economic status, should have access to the necessary resources and support to manage their asthma effectively. By educating people, providing access to essential medications and other treatment options, involving healthcare professionals, and promoting community involvement, we can work towards a future where asthma is a condition that affects no one.

 How to manage Pain in Winters with Physiotherapy?

As temperatures drop in the winter, weather-related health problems start to rise. Especially for patients with bone & joint-related issues. Pain, swelling, stiffness, fatigue, and other common symptoms are harder to control during the winter. Physiotherapy can help patients suffering from arthritis, spondylosis, asthma etc in managing pain in winters and living through winter pain-free.

 

Common conditions that get worsened in winters & How Physiotherapy helps:

 1. Joint pains and stiffened muscles are the most common health problem plaguing the lives of older people in low temperatures. There is a 50 percent spike in the number of senior citizens seeking treatment for bone and joint problems during winter.

 Various modalities like hot & cold therapy, TENS therapy, and therapeutic massages can help in managing joint pain & loosen muscles during winters. Also, your physiotherapist can suggest certain exercises/stretches to keep the pain at bay.

 2. Rheumatoid arthritis is another chronic ailment that concerns people during winters. Its symptoms including pain, swelling, stiffness, fatigue, and other common rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are harder to control during the winter

 Physical therapy is an effective and safe treatment for managing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Under proper counseling individuals with rheumatoid arthritis can safely exercise, improving overall physical fitness, improved sense of wellbeing, and greater ease for activities of daily living

 3. Cervical Spondylosis, a condition affecting bones, discs, and joints of the neck of people have a tough time as temperatures dip in winter.

 

Physiotherapy plays a significant role in the management of cervical Spondylosis. In the active part of physical therapy, a physical therapist teaches various exercises to improve flexibility, strength, core stability, and range of motion.

 4. Asthma attacks are also triggered by cold weather, as winters come with a lot of allergens in the air, being the main causative factor for asthma. People with asthma have sensitive airways, which gets aggravated by cold or damp weather conditions.

 Diaphragmatic breathing exercises and pursing lip breathing techniques are widely used in asthma to prevent breathing abnormalities. Pursed lip breathing prevents the trapping of air into the lungs.