Best Hospital For Asthma Treatment

“Asthma” is a long-term lung and breathing condition which makes it difficult to breathe and can be life-threatening if left untreated. Although it is a condition for life, some treatment and preventive measures can significantly help manage Asthma. In this article, we will take you through these treatments and preventive measures to help you understand the complexity of this condition. 

Asthma is a long-term lung condition that results in inflammation, contraction of muscles around the airways, and excess production of mucus. This all combines to make the airways narrow, which makes it difficult to breathe. Individuals with asthma have symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath, most notably during an asthma attack or flare-up.

Asthma treatment has also come a long way, with hospitals such as Gleneagles Hospitals, the best hospital for asthma treatment in Mumbai​, at the forefront of providing expert care for patients with asthma. Whether you seek the best treatment for asthma in Mumbai or asthma control in adults, knowledge of the disease and proper expert care can go a long way in managing symptoms and enhancing the quality of life.

An asthma attack arises when the muscles surrounding the airways narrow down, known as bronchospasm, which causes airways to tighten. At this time, the inner lining of these airways swells, which causes an increase in mucus production. The three things going at the same time lead to the narrowing of the airways, obstructing the flow of air and making it difficult to even breathe. To Summerise, during an asthma attack, three mechanisms are prevalent, namely Bronchospasm, inflammation, and mucus production. 

Asthma, based on different factors such as symptoms, causes, and triggers, can be divided into various types, and understanding these types can significantly help doctors create a personalised treatment plan. Some of the most common types of Asthma are: 

• Intermittent Asthma: This form of asthma is marked by sporadic symptoms, where the individual remains normal between attacks. For example, an asthma attack may happen from time to time due to certain triggers.
• Persistent Asthma: This type of asthma is more regular, with symptoms happening frequently. It can be divided into mild, moderate, or severe based on the frequency and severity of symptoms.

Apart from this typical differentiation of asthma, based on its frequency and severity, Asthma can also be divided on the basis of triggers that can start an asthma attack. These triggers based types are: 

• Allergic Asthma: This is the most prevalent type of asthma, caused by allergens such as dust mites, mould, pet dander, or pollen.
• Non-Allergic Asthma: In some individuals, asthma symptoms arise without any apparent allergens, usually caused by factors like exercise, stress, or viral infections.
• Exercise-induced asthma: It occurs mostly during or after exertion. It is most common in individuals who participate in heavy physical activity.
• Occupational Asthma: It develops as a result of exposure to irritants or allergens on the job, like chemicals, dust, or fumes.
• Adult-Onset Asthma: It is the type of asthma that arises after the age of 18 years. It tends to occur in women and might be related to exposure to irritants or allergens.
• Pediatric Asthma: It is asthma that usually starts in childhood, frequently before the age of 5. Although some children will outgrow asthma, others will continue to have symptoms into adulthood.

Although asthma is a condition that can develop in anyone, there still are several reasons why some people are more prone to this disease while others are not. These reasons can be: 

• Genetics: A history of asthma or other allergies in the family can increase your chances of developing asthma.
• Allergies: Individuals with allergies are more likely to develop asthma. Pollen, dust mites, mould, and pet dander are common allergens.
• Environmental Conditions: Exposure to environmental toxins, including tobacco smoke, industrial chemicals, and air pollution, makes asthma more likely to develop, especially in children.
• Respiratory Infections: Some respiratory infections, particularly in early childhood, are associated with the development of asthma.
• Gender: Asthma is more prevalent in women than men, particularly in adults. In children, asthma is more prevalent in boys than girls.

 Although there is no permanent treatment for asthma, it can still be managed with the help of proper treatments. The goal of these treatments is to control symptoms of asthma, decrease the frequency of asthma attacks, and enhance overall lung function. These primary treatments are also known as bronchial asthma treatment​, which includes: 

• Bronchodilators: These drugs are present within the inhalers and are considered the best treatment for asthma​. The drugs relax the airway muscles, allowing for easier breathing. They give fast relief during an asthma attack.
• Anti-inflammatory Drugs: Inhaled corticosteroids or leukotriene modifiers decrease inflammation in the airways and production of mucus. These drugs are utilised for long-term control of asthma.
• Biologic Therapies: For those with severe, poorly controlled asthma, biologic therapies can be employed. These drugs work by targeting specific elements of the immune system to suppress inflammation and asthma symptoms.
• Asthma Operation: Asthma Operation in Mumbai, “Bronchial Thermoplasty”, is also gaining significant attention as a successful asthma treatment. It is done with specialised tools by experienced pulmonologists across different healthcare institutions.

Living with asthma can be tough, but with proper management and the right approach towards this growing lung issue, it can become a bit easier and help in achieving a healthy lifestyle. Some important techniques that can help in managing asthma are: 

• Avoiding Triggers: Know and limit contact with asthma triggers, which include allergens, pollutants, and irritants.
• Taking Medications Properly: Follow the medication schedule prescribed. Long-term drugs must be taken every day, even when the symptoms are absent, to avoid flare-ups.
• Checking for symptoms: Use a peak flow meter or an asthma diary to check asthma symptoms regularly. This may alert you to deteriorating symptoms and prompt you to get treatment early.
• Staying Active: Regular physical activity is crucial to general health, but patients with exercise-induced asthma must use an inhaler before exercising, according to their doctor's orders.

Bronchial thermoplasty is not a permanent treatment for asthma but its effectiveness surely can last for up to 10 years. It includes the use of radiofrequency energy. Bronchial thermoplasty is the best treatment for asthma​ for patients suffering from serious asthma, and other treatments like inhalers and other consumables fail to treat it. Here is the detailed procedure for asthma operation in Mumbai: 

1. Pre-Surgery Preparation: 

The pre-surgery preparation for the surgery includes fasting for a minimum of eight hours before the procedure and taking oral steroids for several days before the procedure. Also, it is necessary to make arrangements for a driver to take you home following the procedure, as anaesthesia will be used during the surgery. 

2. During the Procedure: 

The procedure is a minimally invasive one which generally takes 45 minutes to an hour only. Before the start of the actual surgery, you will receive anaesthesia to avoid discomfort. A bronchoscope (thin tube) will be passed through your mouth and into your lungs. Then, the asthma specialist in Mumbai will use radiofrequency energy to heat areas of thickened airway muscles. Each treatment addresses specific lung areas, with three distinct procedures needed to be fully treated.

3. Risks and Complications: 

While bronchial thermoplasty improves asthma symptoms for most patients, it is not without risk. These are some of the potential risks of this surgery are: 

• Infection,
• Hospitalisation as a result of intense symptoms,
• Atelectasis: the collapse of lung tissue and
• Bronchiectasis: enlargement of air passages. 

Some may even have symptoms of increased discomfort or pain in the chest during the days following the treatment. Note that this surgery is for the treatment of asthma in adults only. 

When it comes to chronic conditions like asthma, choosing the right hospital becomes crucial. Gleneagles Hospital stands out as the best hospital for asthma treatment in Mumbai​. Here are the reasons why the hospital is one of the most trusted institutions for many and will be for you, too: 

• A comprehensive and complete asthma package which covers the complete treatment of asthma.
• Gleneagles Hospital is the home of the best asthma specialist in Mumbai.
• World-class and advanced medical facilities with modern infrastructure.
• Pioneers of using a multidisciplinary approach for asthma treatments. ​