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Every breath you take

Every breath you take

Asthma is a growing problem in developed countries with 100-150 million people affected by this breathing disorder.

More than 20 years after a song called “Every breath you take” became a worldwide hit for The Police, the single remains one of the most popular on many radio stations’ play lists.

Originally, it was thought that it was a love song – the title was also used for a romantic novel by best-selling US author, Judith McNaught – but closer examination showed that the song was not a paean to passion.

The title has also been used by several authors when describing their – or their loved ones – experiences with asthma. And, once again, the evocative title of these articles masks the profound effect that asthma can have on sufferers.

Imagine for a moment what it would be like to find every single breath that you take requires an effort of monumental proportion. Imagine too being unable to climb a few stairs or lift a small child because you cannot get enough breath. This is how uncontrolled asthma can affect people’s lives.

But asthma is not a cause for shame. Olympic athletes, famous leaders, celebrities and ordinary people live successful lives with asthma.

Some achieve extraordinary feats. For example, in 2006 GSK.com sponsored an attempt by a Danish man, Mogens Jensen, to become the first asthmatic to climb Mount Everest without the aid of additional oxygen.

What is asthma and how is it treated?

Asthma involves the narrowing of the airways (bronchi) which lead from the windpipe into the lungs.

During breathing, the bronchi carry the air that we breathe in and the carbon dioxide we breathe out. In people with asthma, the bronchi are sensitive and slightly swollen.

In an asthma attack, the bronchi contract, narrowing the tubes, and therefore the pathway for air to come in and out. The lining of the bronchi also become more inflamed and often, sticky mucous is produced. This makes it much more difficult to breathe, especially when breathing out.

The main symptoms of an asthma attack are difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath and a tight sensation around the throat. An audible wheeze is often heard and sometimes coughing can be the main symptom in children.

Asthma attacks can be associated with exercise, cold temperatures, or come on at night. They can also be caused by an allergy to triggers such as cat fur or dust mites or pollutants such as cigarette smoke and vehicle exhaust fumes.

There are several types of medicine that are effective in controlling asthma:

Relievers – these ‘relax’ the bronchi when a person has difficulty breathing
Preventors – these prevent inflammation of the airways
Protectors – act in a similar way to relievers but over a longer period

You can learn more about asthma and its treatment in our pages about your health.

Asthma control

A well-controlled asthmatic person would rarely be aware of the symptoms that can be so debilitating in a person with uncontrolled asthma. In other words they can lead normal, active lives uninterrupted by asthma attacks.

The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) works with healthcare professionals and health officials around the world to improve the lives of people with asthma. GINA defines asthma control as:

No (or minimal) asthma symptoms
No waking at night due to asthma
No (or minimal) need to use a reliever medicine
No visits to an emergency room due to asthma attacks
The ability to do normal exercise or physical activity
Normal (or near normal) lung function tests

GINA’s evidence of poorly controlled asthma around the world tells a compelling story:

One in five Israeli children with asthma visit the emergency room each year and one in ten is hospitalised
In Western Europe, one in four people with asthma needed to visit the emergency room
In Egypt, one in four children with asthma is unable to attend school regularly due to poor asthma control

In some regions of the world, asthma deaths are the tragic result of poor asthma care and treatment, especially in developing countries. This clearly highlights the need for a better approach to diagnosing and treating asthma in some countries.

World Asthma Day

World Asthma Day, first held in 1998, is an annual event organised by GINA with the aim of improving asthma care and awareness around the world. This year’s theme is the “unmet needs of asthma”. GINA has identified four important areas for improvement:

Diagnosis – some people with asthma are never diagnosed with the condition and therefore cannot be treated. In some parts of the world, asthma is not diagnosed properly because the symptoms are too similar to other conditions
Treatment – barriers such as the cost and availability of medicines and the non-adherence to standard treatment guidelines can hamper effective treatment
Education – some people need help in understanding how to take their medicines or manage their asthma effectively
Environmental health – triggers such as air pollution, cigarette smoke, or chemicals used at home or work can make symptoms worse

Tackling each of these unmet needs, says GINA, can contribute to improving asthma control in many parts if the world.