When Asthma strikes

Health article By Denrele Animasaun (Part1)

“Life gives us brief moments with another…but sometimes in those brief moments we get memories that last a life time…

In my line of work as a public health specialist, we experience loss both professionally and personally as part of life cycle, still it does not make it any easier.

We were told that Ogbona Amadi succumbed to complications related asthma. The symptoms he complained of – feeling cold, shortness of breath, tightness of the chest and coughing.  He was rushed to the clinic but they were unable to save him.

Asthma may seem relatively manageable but can prove fatal.  His death really hit home as in the last three years, people close to me had lost their loved ones. One friend lost her young son another friend lost her partner, he was 42 years old.  I also have a vested interest as my children have asthma.

I understand that the subject matter is not one that some people like to engage in especially not long after a loss. But I come from the camp that knows that knowledge is power.

So what do we know about asthma? Asthma affects people of all ages, but it most often starts during childhood.

Black people have the highest asthma prevalence of any racial group. It  is   a  long  term  condition,  that   affects  the  lungs   and  inflames and  narrows   the  airways. One   may experience wheezing or whistling   breathing   sounds, chest tightness, shortness of breath and coughing. The coughing often occurs at night or early in the morning.