PESHAWAR, May 6: The doctors have called for taking measures aiming at keeping the environment clean in order to save people from being inflicted with asthma.

Speaking at a function organized by the NWFP chapter of the Pakistan Chest Society (PCS) here at the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) on Tuesday to mark the “World Asthma Day”, the doctors said the asthma is caused largely by the polluted environment.

“It is the prime responsibility of every citizen of the country to make individual as well as collective efforts to maintain hygienic environment and save the people from falling prey to asthma”, said Dr Jalilur Rehman, medical superintendent of the LRH. According to him, prevention was far better than the treatment, because it costs nothing but saves people from a host of diseases.

He said spitting and living in narrow rooms were bound to cause asthma and asked the people to get fresh air and refrain from spitting in open places.

Malnutrition and unbalanced diet could also cause asthma and there was an urgent need on the part of the people to take care of their diet, he said.

Assistant professor of the chest ward, LRH and representative of the PCS, NWFP, Dr Mohammad Yousaf, was of the view that asthma attacks both children and adults. He said asthma is a curable disease, provided the patient consults a right doctor at right time.

Dr Yousaf, said that the people should discard the domestic waste in garbage drums and should try their level best to develop a culture of cleanliness in their surroundings and spread awareness regarding the importance of unpolluted atmosphere and the ill-affects of the dirtiness on the society.

Dr Zafar, said that asthma is totally curable, especially in the early stage.

He said that several times, patients discontinue their treatment after feeling temporary relief, but the disease recurs and the patients have to start the treatment afresh.