Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz


2.3 million people in Peru suffer from bronchial asthma, said the president of the country's Bronchial Asthma Foundation, Julián Rodríguez Galindo.

Rodríguez explained that bronchial asthma was a chronic condition involving the respiratory system, which caused symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and coughing.

It was explained that the symptoms were mainly caused when the airway constricted and became lined with excessive mucus.

"Over 15 million people all over the world fight this disease, which increases in victims 6 percent yearly and causes the death of over 180,000 people every year," said Rodríguez.

According to the head of the Bronchial Asthma Foundation, the majority of cases in Peru were registered in the cities of Lima, Chimbote, Chiclayo, Ica and Piura because of humidity and pollution.

It was also reported that the districts in Lima with the highest rates of the disease were Miraflores, Chorrillos, Barranco, San Juan de Lurigancho and Villa María del Triunfo.

In honor of World Asthma Day, the foundation invited the country's residents to a conference that would be given on bronchial asthma on May 4 at the "Pedro Weiss" auditorium located in the Colegio Médico del Perú.