'Asthma Affects Up To 10% Of Kashmiri Population'

Asthma, a chronic and potentially life-threatening respiratory condition, is impacting between 5 to 10 percent of the population in Kashmir, mirroring global trends, doctors have warned.

- Agencies

They are urging the public to take early symptoms seriously and adopt preventive measures against the disease, which, along with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), has emerged as the third leading cause of death worldwide.

Dr Tanvir Ahmad, a chest disease specialist, said chronic lung diseases like asthma and COPD are responsible for an estimated 4.5 lakh deaths globally each year. "Many of these deaths are preventable with timely intervention,” he said.

Dr Tanvir said that while manageable, asthma continues to pose a significant health burden, particularly in Kashmir, where approximately 8% of the adult population and a substantial number of children are affected. He added that asthma appears to affect women more than men, attributing this trend to environmental, genetic, and occupational factors.

In Kashmir, the cold climate, increasing pollution levels, frequent use of biomass for heating, and exposure to allergens have been identified as key contributors to the rising incidence of asthma, Dr Tanvir further explained.