A leading neurosurgeon has cautioned that asthma remains a mounting public health challenge in Ghana, claiming thousands of lives each year as gaps in awareness, timely diagnosis, and access to treatment persist. Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Thursday (7 May), Dr Teddy Totimeh described asthma as a chronic condition that restricts airflow in the lungs, noting its rising prevalence is driven by both genetic vulnerability and environmental factors such as worsening pollution and airborne irritants. “If you picture the lungs as a network of tubes that allow air to pass through, asthma occurs when those tubes fail to open properly,” he explained. “That limits the body’s ability to receive oxygen effectively.”
Rising burden, shifting patterns
Dr. Teddy Totimeh has warned that asthma is reaching near‑“pandemic” levels worldwide, stressing that the disease is no longer confined to poorer regions but is now widespread across both high‑ and low‑income countries. In Ghana alone, he noted, asthma claims an estimated 2,000 lives annually, affecting children and adults alike. Medical evidence increasingly points to environmental triggers—including dust, pollution, and allergens—as key drivers of the surge in cases. Among these, dust mites, microscopic organisms found in household dust, remain a major trigger in Ghana.
Why severity differs
The neurosurgeon explained that asthma severity varies widely depending on how strongly an individual’s immune system reacts to allergens.
- Some individuals have mild, manageable symptoms
- Others experience severe, life-threatening attacks
This variation, he said, is partly genetic, with asthma often running in families, but is also shaped by long-term exposure to irritants.
Adult-onset asthma and hidden symptoms
Contrary to popular belief, asthma can emerge later in life even among individuals with no childhood history of the condition. Dr. Totimeh explained that prolonged exposure to environmental triggers can gradually activate hidden sensitivities. He cautioned that many cases remain undiagnosed because symptoms are often mistaken for minor ailments.
Key early warning signs include:
- Persistent wheezing (a whistling sound when breathing)
- Night-time coughing
- Seasonal breathing difficulties
- Chest tightness or shortness of breath
“These symptoms should never be ignored,” he said, urging parents in particular to seek medical evaluation for children with recurrent night coughs or breathing problems.
Night and early morning attacks explained
Asthma symptoms are often worse at night or early morning due to prolonged exposure to the same environment during sleep. “You are lying in one place for hours, exposed to the same irritants,” Totimeh said. “By morning, the effects build up and trigger an attack.” Seasonal changes — especially transitions between dry and rainy periods — can also worsen symptoms due to increased allergens in the air.
Inhaler myths undermining treatment
Dr. Teddy Totimeh firmly challenged widespread misconceptions about asthma inhalers, emphasising that they are neither addictive nor harmful. Instead, he described them as a breakthrough in treatment, delivering medication directly to the lungs for faster, more effective relief with fewer side effects. “Inhalers have revolutionised asthma care,” he said. “They send medication straight to the source of the problem.”
However, he expressed concern that access remains severely limited in Ghana and other low‑ and middle‑income countries, estimating that fewer than 10% of patients who need inhalers actually receive them. He warned that persistent misinformation is further discouraging their use, worsening health outcomes.
A manageable condition — with the right care
Despite its severity, Totimeh emphasised that asthma is highly manageable with proper diagnosis and treatment.
He called for:
- Stronger primary healthcare screening
- Improved access to inhalers
- Greater public awareness
- Expanded specialist care, including pulmonologists
“It is not a death sentence,” he said. “If we identify it early and manage it properly, people can live full lives.”
Prevention and daily habits
Totimeh also highlighted simple lifestyle measures that can reduce risk and improve respiratory health:
- Regular physical activity
- Minimising exposure to known triggers (dust, smoke, pollutants)
- Maintaining clean indoor environments
- Seeking early medical attention for symptoms
He stressed the need for a broader public health approach to ensure asthma care reaches beyond urban centres into homes, schools and communities nationwide. “The difference between fear and control comes down to awareness, diagnosis and consistent care,” he added.
Source: Winifred Lartey