GAHS holds programmes on management of lung disease

The health program included a video conference site with Tawam Hospital in Al Ain.

GPs, Family physicians, Pulmonologists, Internists, ER Physicians and respiratory therapists participated in discussions related to issues such as new methods on how to diagnose and treat a patient with pneumonia, how to detect early complications of bronchial asthma and manage such patients, management and treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and managing upper respiratory tract infections in general.

One of the major respiratory conditions discussed was Asthma. Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the lungs. Once the airways in the lungs begin to swell, breathing becomes difficult. People with asthma are often short of breath and have a feeling of tightness in the chest. Some triggers of an asthma attack include, but are not limited to, cigarette smoke, cockroaches, dust mites, mold, animals, pollen, cold air, exercise, stress, and respiratory infections.

A recurrent disease like asthma largely reduces one's quality of life. For most asthmatics, the disease often restricts their ability to do normal work that involves moderate physical activity, not to mention its adverse effect on the sufferer's mental state and finances.

It is estimated that 7.2 per cent of the world's population is asthmatic. In the UAE, approximately 15 per cent of the population and more than 40 per cent of children suffer from the disease, the highest rate in the world according to studies conducted in 2004.

Objectives of such education programs aim at providing continuing professional development for healthcare personnel by benefiting from the knowledge of experts in the field, through stimulating research interest and encouraging collaboration. Healthcare professionals gather to share evidence-based health information on how to best manage and treat respiratory diseases and care for those whose health is affected by them.