Critical warning from the expert: With the earthquake disaster, there is a risk of asthma diseases spiraling out of control
As we try to heal the wounds after the earthquakes that struck Kahramanmaraş on February 6, the removal of the rubble continues. Experts said workers working at the wreck should take precautions to avoid being exposed to dust from devastating earthquakes. Chest disease specialist Mehmet Sinan Bodur stated that more than 400,000 people die from asthma each year worldwide.
Noting that asthma is a disease that can be controlled with treatment, Bodur said: “According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, there are about 300 million cases of asthma. Again, we lose about 400,000 cases due to asthma. This is a serious number. Asthma is a respiratory disease that can be prevented and controlled. The quality of life of patients with asthma is compromised by chronic inflammation in the airways, chronic inflammation and narrowing of the airways. Wheezing and shortness of breath due to breathing develop. Asthma is a disease that can be controlled. Therefore, it must be diagnosed and treated effectively. In this treatment, the cooperation of the team is very important for the patient. That is why we attach great importance to patient education about the use of medicines.
Emphasizing that there may be an increase in asthma cases after the earthquakes in the center of Kahramanmaraş, Bodur said: “Unfortunately, the earthquake disaster has been on our country’s agenda for the past few months. With the earthquake disaster, there is a risk of asthma diseases getting out of control in the earthquake-hit provinces. Because patients can be under stress due to earthquakes and have difficulty accessing their medications. At the same time, there appears to be an increase in cases of chest and respiratory disease due to the debris dust in the quake. Dust exposure may have triggered their asthma and got out of control. It shows us that asthma is influenced by environmental factors. Now it is necessary to control the chronic inflammation that develops in the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, which is caused by allergens, especially in the spring months, and to carry out asthma treatment.