World Asthma Day – World Asthma Day #Columbia Asia Hospital, #Gurgaon reaches out to factory workers, distributes masks to create awareness on rising asthma

World Asthma Day

Columbia Asia Hospital, Gurgaon reaches out to factory workers, distributes masks to create awareness on rising asthma

• The hospital distributed face masks to help protect against inhaling polluted air in and around industrial areas
• Columbia Asia Hospital’s initiative is aimed at creating awareness and warn them against the increase in level of industrial pollution that may further trigger Asthma

Gurgaon, 3 May 2016:  Owing to the high levels of air and industrial pollution, Asthma is certainly on the rise in Gurgaon. As per WHO, nearly 17-30 million people in India are suffering from asthma. The condition not only affects the adults but children, as young as 5-11 years are also falling prey to the disease.

With air pollution as one of the prime reasons for causing and aggravating asthma in people, Columbia Asia Hospital, Gurgaon today distributed masks to the factory workers who are directly exposed to industrial pollution. Marking the World Asthma Day, the hospital initiated to provide workers with safety masks and instill the importance of wearing them while working in the field.

Columbia Asia Hospital, Gurgaon mask distribution drive with the factory workers was aimed at creating mass awareness regarding the dangerous levels of industrial pollution that is further raising the cases of asthma in Gurgaon among general masses.

“Over the years, asthma has become the most common chronic disease among adults as well as in children. In a city like Gurgaon, industrial & air pollution is breaching the tolerance levels. While pollution from numerous factories has affected the quality of air for the entire region, factory workers become the most vulnerable to asthma as their job nature demands constant exposure to industrial pollution owing to their surroundings. Therefore, through our initiative we not only intend to help these workers to protect them from inhaling the polluted air, but also create a general awareness regarding the rise in asthma cases in the city. With numbers increasing every year, it is necessary for every individual, young or old, to notice and treat the early symptoms with early medication to control asthma,” said Dr. Piyush Goel, consultant Pulmunology at Columbia Asia hospital Palam.

During an asthma attack, the lining of the bronchial tubes swell, causing the airways to narrow and reducing the flow of air into and out of the lungs. Recurrent asthma symptoms frequently cause sleeplessness, daytime fatigue, reduced activity levels and school and work absenteeism. Asthma has a relatively low fatality rate compared to other chronic diseases.  While some asthmatic symptoms are mild and go away on their own with minimal medication, other continues to get worse. When symptoms get more intense and/or more symptoms occur, it is called Asthma attack. They are also known as flare-ups or exacerbations.

“The increase in number of people suffering from asthma has become a major concern. While earlier we used to receive cases of adults and aged suffering from the condition, now we receive relatively more number of pediatric asthma patients, in our hospital as well. Asthma has turned out to become a public health problem occurring in all income groups. Notably, over 80% of asthma deaths occur in developing countries. Hence, it becomes important to treat the symptoms when you first notice them, with right medication. It is also very important to understand, that Asthma can only be controlled, not cured completely,” added Dr. Piyush Goel, consultant Pulmunology at Columbia Asia hospital Palam.

The hospital also gave them some tips to maintain & prevent asthma like, how important it is to practice yoga every day or indulge in any physical activity. While they should quit smoking completely, they should also avoid inhaling polluted air such as smoke or dust. The best precaution of asthma is to keep allergenic situations at bay. In case of children, parents need to be very alert and watchful. They should not take cough and breathlessness lightly. It could be an early symptom of developing asthma.

The hospital distributed 100 masks to various factory workers.

About Columbia Asia Hospitals Pvt. Ltd.

Columbia Asia Hospitals Pvt. Ltd. is the only company in India to utilize 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) route in the hospital sector.

About Columbia Asia Group of Companies

The Columbia Asia Group is owned by more than 150 private equity companies, fund management organizations and individual investors. The group currently operates eleven facilities in India and has presence in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad, Kolkata, Mysore, Patiala and Pune. The company also operates hospitals in Malaysia (11), Vietnam (3), and Indonesia (3). The Indian management operations are managed from its office in Bangalore.