Take a breath! Is it naturally simple?

In Poland, up to 40% of respondents declare the characteristics of allergies, and this is one of the most common causes of asthma. Inflammation of the nasal mucosa is reported by 35% of the population of large cities. The consequences of ignoring allergies are high morbidity and a significant decrease in the quality of life (1). How to help with breathing?

Disturbing statistics

Research proves that most of the people in the world (78%) suffer from chronic diseases. Most often, these people struggle with the bothersome symptoms of too high blood pressure, cholesterol levels, chronic pain or allergies. In Poland, according to Edelman Research for Teva, the rate of sick people who declare suffering from at least one chronic disease is 80%. 56% of Polish women and men declare that they deal with symptoms of at least two chronic diseases (2).

Compared to the results of other countries, the high percentage of Polish patients struggling with allergy symptoms draws special attention. It is as much as 26% of all people who declare suffering from chronic diseases, while the global rate is 12%. It is worth adding that similarly high rates apply to other countries in our region, such as the Czech Republic (29%) or Slovakia (26%) (2). The reason may be poor air quality, which is also confirmed by comparisons of the population of large cities and rural areas. Chest wheezing (auscultation symptoms) is reported 30% more often in cities than in the countryside (1).

Moreover, depending on the region and gender, the characteristics of allergy are declared by as much as 40% of the respondents i. A high percentage (39%) concerns the youngest studied group: 18-24 years (2). Symptoms of respiratory allergies are responsible for high morbidity – 50% of those allergic are actively ill for more than 4 weeks a year (1).

The respiratory system – why is it so important?

The respiratory system consists of the upper and lower airways, and the lungs. The basic task of the respiratory system in every living organism is ventilation, a term understood by supplying oxygen to blood cells and removing carbon dioxide and water vapor (3). That is why what we breathe is such an important factor that increases the risk of developing a respiratory disease.

The most common diseases of the respiratory system include: rhinitis, colds, flu, tonsillitis (angina), inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, laryngitis and tracheitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, pleurisy, tuberculosis. It also includes allergy as a chronic disease (3).

One of the most common causes of respiratory disease is allergy, which is responsible for almost half of respiratory disease cases, says Dr. hab. n. med. Adam Jerzy Sybilski pediatrician and allergist – Allergy is not a disease – it is a feature of our body. Respiratory diseases, such as rhinitis and asthma, are very often allergic. Interestingly, the very common rhinitis is much more common in urban areas than in rural areas, so it is likely that urban air pollution exacerbates symptoms or triggers allergy symptoms – adds the specialist.

Factors causing respiratory diseases

Obvious factors causing respiratory diseases are air pollution and tobacco smoke. It turns out that a poor diet also plays a negative role. Obesity and overweight are factors contributing to the occurrence of sleep apnea, and malnutrition and anemia positively correlate with tuberculosis and COPD.

Who is at risk?

According to the ELF (European Lung Foundation) report, lung diseases are currently the sixth leading cause of death in the world. Every year in the European Union, one in eight deaths is a consequence of respiratory diseases, and lung diseases are responsible for at least 6 million hospitalizations (4).

However, according to the World Health Organization, 700 die every year due to air pollution in the world. children under 5 years of age (5). The American Lung Disease Association (ALA) says that children are more vulnerable to air pollution because their lungs are growing rapidly and therefore work more actively than adults’ lungs. So they take in more air, along with toxic pollutants (6).

The patient wants to know and have an influence

In the treatment process, therapeutic success largely depends on the patient himself. He is responsible for the proper administration and use of the drug. It is therefore important to ensure that patients are comfortable and facilitated in the correct administration of the drug. It may be especially difficult to properly administer your inhaled medication to children. An easy and user-friendly nebulizer that effectively applies a carefully selected dose of the drug and well-established knowledge about the correct use will be a guarantee of safe therapy for the child for parents and caregivers. – says dr hab. n. med. Adam Jerzy Sybilski.

Education and substantive assistance provided to the patients themselves and their caregivers play a huge role. Research proves that Poles are more than average involved in health issues. This applies to both the chronically ill (57% vs. 50%) and the entire population (46% vs. 37%) – they are more willing to take responsibility and look for information about health; including most preferably on the Internet (45%). They are most interested in:

1. understanding the causes of your health and malaise
2. the ability to independently influence the symptoms of the disease and the progress of treatment
3. easier access to treatment and specialists
4. offsetting the cost of successful treatment (2)

Not only drugs

The chronically ill in Poland expect help to people in a particularly difficult situation (78%) through sharing knowledge about drugs (73%), help in their proper administration (70%) and safe use (74%). First of all, they expect pharmaceutical companies to deliver high-quality drugs (81%) with their affordability (77%) (2).

Correct diagnosis and treatment prescribed by a doctor is only half the battle. Without the patient’s responsibility for their health and diligent compliance with the recommendations, the therapy will fail. What is worth remembering?

Extremely often, mums look for answers to questions bothering them about the proper use of the drug and its administration to a child. Everything seems clear at the time of a medical visit; after leaving the office, at home, it suddenly turns out that we have a lot of doubts, and the practical application of the doctor’s advice is not so simple. – says Anna Trawka, blogger Nebule – In order not to make mistakes and look for proven solutions, let’s exchange experiences and good advice, but always look for medical advice from a proven medical source – she adds.

Nebulizations / inhalations – what should you pay attention to?

1. Inhaling a prescription drug in children up to 3 years of age should be carried out through a mask without side holes, well-fitted to the child’s face (including his mouth and nose).
2. Inhaling a prescription drug in children over 3 years of age should take place through the mouthpiece, which the child should take between the teeth, hold it around the mouth and breathe through the mouth (not through the nose!).
3. We do not inhale the medicine through the nipples attached to the inhalers.
4. After each inhalation, wash the mouth (face) and rinse the mouth (in younger children, give something to drink)
5. Before inhalation, you should not open the nose if you are inhaling a prescription drug – it is supposed to reach the lower respiratory tract, and the nose is an excellent air filter and can retain a lot of the drug.
6. No oils or herbs should be poured into the inhalers.
7. Both pneumatic and mesh inhalers need to be cleaned very regularly.
8. Medicines for inhalation should not be diluted.

Bibliography:

1. Samoliński B. et al., Epidemiology of Allergic Diseases in Poland (ECAP), Alergologia Polska – Polish Journal of Allergology I (2014), 10-14.

2. The market research conducted by Edelman Research covers a sample of 1013 people, commissioned by Teva 2018: “Teva Preliminary Research 2018”, study available at www.teva.pl, accessed on 3.12.2019/XNUMX/XNUMX

3. Płusa T., Diseases of the respiratory system, Termedia, Poznań 2014.

4. https://www.europeanlung.org/pl/choroby-pÅuc-i-informacje/; access from November 25.11.2019, XNUMX

5. https://www.who.int/ceh/publications/Advance-copy-Oct24_18150_Air-Pollution-and-Child-Health-merged-compressed.pdf?ua=1; access from November 25.11.2019, XNUMX

6. https://www.lung.org/our-initiatives/healthy-air/outdoor/air-pollution/children-and-air-pollution.html; access from November 25.11.2019, 19, PO / GTV / 0435/XNUMX