Asthma on the rise in Asia due to urbanization, pollution

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Dr. Jai Maharaj - 04 Mar 2004 01:58 GMT

Asthma on the rise in Asia due to mounting urbanization, pollution

February 17, 2004

BANGKOK (AFP) - Asia's rapid urbanisation, dangerous
pollution levels and poor medical treatment have
triggered an alarming increase in asthma which affects
300 million people worldwide, experts said.

The global prevalence of asthma, already the world's
largest respiratory killer, has increased steadily over
the past 20 years due mostly to urban development,
particularly in the region.

"This problem is set to worsen as Asian populations
become more urbanized, unless measures are taken now to
improve treatment," the Asia Asthma Development Board
(AADB) said at the World Asthma Meeting held here this
week.

Experts at the conference, attended by hundreds of
scientists and doctors, warned that sufferers in Asia are
particularly at risk because doctors are failing to
address the chronic condition.

More here:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=1403&e=15&u=/afp/20040217/hl_af
p/health_asia_asthma&sid=96001010

Jai Maharaj
http://www.mantra.com/jai
Om Shanti

Panchaang for 12 Phalgun 5104, Wednesday, March 3, 2004:

Shubhanu Nama Samvatsare Uttarayane Moksh Ritau
Kumbh Mase Shukl Pakshe Buddh Vasara Yuktayam
Pushya Nakshatr Shobhan Yog
Balav-Kaulav Karan Dvadashi-Trayodashi Yam Tithau

Hindu Holocaust Museum
http://www.mantra.com/holocaust

Hindu life, principles, spirituality and philosophy
http://www.hindu.org
http://www.hindunet.org

The truth about Islam and Muslims
http://www.flex.com/~jai/satyamevajayate

o Not for commercial use. Solely to be fairly used for the
educational purposes of research and open discussion. The contents of
this post may not have been authored by, and do not necessarily represent
the opinion of the poster. The contents are protected by copyright law
and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
o If you send private e-mail to me, it will likely not be read,
considered or answered if it does not contain your full legal name,
current e-mail and postal addresses, and live-voice telephone number.
o Posted for information and discussion. Views expressed by others
are not necessarily those of the poster.

Reply to this Message

CBI - 06 Mar 2004 03:40 GMT

> Asthma on the rise in Asia due to mounting urbanization, pollution

More accurately stated:

Asthma incidence increasing and many suspect it may be
linked to increasing urbanization and pollution.

We know they are both increasing - we don't know there is a
cause and effect relationship (although I admit it is not a
bad bet). Heck, one could also surmise that it is all those
damned asthmatics moving to cities and creating all that
pollution. I guess they don't have dry powder inhalers yet.

Signature

CBI, MD

Reply to this Message

jackmallory@webtv.net - 06 Mar 2004 17:08 GMT

I'll bet on "dr" Jai over CBI on this one.
We're allowed opinions here.---J

PS In the mid-nineties I got to do more than a bit of traveling:
Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Bahia (Salvador), Rio, Santiago,
Athens, Delhi, Brisbane and KaoShung.

Nearly every large and medium-size foreign city I visited suffered from
bad to severe polution while I was there. (Oh yes and London!)

Reply to this Message

CBI - 08 Mar 2004 02:37 GMT

> I'll bet on "dr" Jai over CBI on this one.
> We're allowed opinions here.---J

It is not really a matter of picking one of us. I admited in
my post that it was not a bad bet. However, I still hate to
see things like this presented as established fact even if
it is pretty likely.

Signature

CBI, MD

Reply to this Message

Katilist - 08 Mar 2004 05:42 GMT

CBI wrote about pollution as an asthma cause:

>However, I still hate to
>see things like this presented as established fact even if
>it is pretty likely.

Only anecdotal - when I lived in Northern NJ, I would have terrible asthma
flare-ups from all sorts of things, and in particular cold weather. But when I
went out to the Poconos or to the beach, way up where the air was much cleaner
or where an ocean breeze brought fresh salt air, I could stay out in frigid
weather without so much as a wheeze. I've noticed striking differences in my
breathing in city air and country air.

Myself, I don't think of asthma as a disease, but a symptom. And like a
sore throat can be a symptom of post-nasal drip or strep or too much singing,
it can be caused by many different things for different people. For me,
pollution is definitely a factor.

WolfKat ^..^ >^^<

If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.
-Catherine Aird

Reply to this Message