Asthma Insurance

Asthma is a long-term inflammatory condition that affects the lungs, wherein the air passageways widen, become more constricted, and secrete more mucus. A combination of factors brings on asthma. The disease may be a mild annoyance for some people. However, it can be as serious for some people as cardiac arrest, and a severe asthma attack may endanger life.

Understanding a little about how breathing works is crucial to comprehending asthma causes and diagnosis. In a typical breathing pattern, air passes via your mouth or nose, descends into your throat, enters your airways, and ultimately reaches your lungs. Your lungs include a large number of tiny airways that assist in transferring oxygen from the surrounding air to your veins.

When the muscles surrounding your airways constrict and the wall of your air passageways expands, asthma signs and symptoms develop. The volume of air that could flow through is then further diminished as mucus clogs the airways. The wheezing and chest constriction characteristic of an asthma "attack" can result from these circumstances.

The different types of asthma are characterised based on how severe a person’s asthma symptoms are.

• Persistent Asthma- Persistent asthma is when your symptoms do not abate most of the time. You will also find your symptoms fairly severe for the greater part of your time. Doctors will make an asthma diagnosis based on your symptoms and how often they bother you. They will also see if you can function properly when an ‘attack’ comes on.

• Intermittent Asthma- When your symptoms come and go without much warning, it is identified as intermittent asthma. In such a case, once the symptoms have passed, you feel as though you are normal once again.

• Childhood Asthma- This type of asthma can affect newborns and toddlers and frequently develops before five. Young children can outgrow the disease. Before you determine whether your child needs to keep an inhaler to deal with asthma attacks, consult your doctor.

• Adult-Onset Asthma- This type of asthma starts after you have turned 18, and the symptoms are more severe than in childhood asthma.

• Occupational Asthma- When you work with substances that trigger asthma-like symptoms or may cause you to develop the disease, it is identified as occupational asthma.

• Exercise-Triggered Asthma- This type of asthma is only triggered when exercising. Once your breathing is back to normal, the same symptoms will diminish.

• Severe Asthma- You have severe asthma if your symptoms stay for a long time, and in some cases, even the use of medicines does not make the symptoms go away. People with severe asthma cannot live without an inhaler.

• Seasonal Asthma- In seasonal asthma, a patient’s symptoms are triggered by the change of seasons. Often once the season has passed, the patient will see reduced or diminished symptoms. Winter and Spring are common seasons for asthma flare-ups.

Asthma can be triggered by a variety of factors. Asthma has become more prevalent today because of our quality of life and exposure to toxic materials. Some common asthma causes include;

Exposure- People can acquire asthma after being exposed to items that aggravate the airways. Some of these are allergens, harmful gases, and passive smoke. These can be particularly dangerous for babies and young kids whose immunological systems are still maturing.

Allergies- People with allergies are more likely to develop asthma.

Infections- People who develop severe lung and respiratory infections are more likely to have asthma. This is especially true for little children. If your child is prone to getting coughs and colds regularly, they are more vulnerable to developing asthma.

Hereditary- If someone in your immediate family has asthma, the chances of developing the disease increase.

Risk Factors- Some risk factors increase a person’s chances of developing asthma.

• Living in very cold climates

• Air pollution

• Living in industrial areas where you inhale the toxins being released into the air regularly

• Being over or under-weight

• Smoking or inhaling smoking

• Working in industries that where you are inhaling harmful chemicals regularly

• Certain medicines can trigger asthma

• Increased physical activity

• Experiencing stress and very strong emotions for a long period

• Furry pets can also trigger asthma

Now that we have some of the most common asthma causes, let us delve into common asthma symptoms.

If you can identify asthma signs and symptoms, you can get help in time. Also, if you know the asthma symptoms, you can describe what you are feeling and experiencing better to your doctor, who can help you get the right treatment more effectively.

Here are some of the most common asthma symptoms;

• Difficulty in breathing

• Tightness in the chest

• Strain while breathing during light physical activity

• Wheezing sound while breathing

• Increased dry coughing, especially early in the morning and late at night

• Burning in the chest

• A feeling of constant tiredness

• Difficulty in climbing stairs or going uphill

• Chest pain

• Need for an inhaler increasingly often

If you ever notice that you are experiencing tightness in your chest or if you have any of the asthma symptoms mentioned above, you must see a doctor at once. There are several things your doctor can do to make an asthma diagnosis. Some of these things are;

• FeNO Tests- Nitric oxide in your exhales is measured using a device you breathe into through a tube. The body naturally produces this gas, but levels may be excessive if your lungs are affected.

• Spirometry- This is a simple test wherein you will be asked to breathe into a tube to see how fast you can blow out and the quantity of air being exhaled.

• Peak Flow- These evaluate how effectively your lungs expend air. Even though they're less accurate than spirometry, they can be a useful at-home screening for your lungs if you notice any symptoms. A peak flow metre can assist you in determining what triggers your asthma if your medication is effective, and when you require emergency care.

• CT Scan- This examination creates a glimpse of your internal organs using a sequence of X-rays. Examining the lungs and airways can spot any illnesses or physical conditions (such as an infection) that could be the source of your breathing issues or exacerbate them.

• X-Ray- Although it is not an asthma diagnostic, your physician can perform it to ensure that your symptoms are not caused by anything else. A low-radiation X-ray creates a representation of the interior of your body.

• Allergy Screening- It may be a skin test or a blood test. They can detect pet, dust, mould, and pollen allergies. Once you know what causes your allergies and asthma episodes, you can seek treatment.

There are various ways in which your doctor may choose to treat your asthma based on your symptoms and the severity of your case. Other factors affecting your treatment are your age, gender, lifestyle, weight, and mental status. Based on these factors, your doctor may take the following approaches.

Oral Medications- These drugs soothe airway inflammation and lessen mucus buildup. They facilitate the flow of air into and out of your lungs. To manage or avoid your persistent asthma symptoms, your doctor may prescribe them for daily use.

Bronchodilators- These drugs relax the muscles surrounding your airways so that the airway can move without stress. They also make it easier for mucus to pass through the airways. These medications are used to treat both intermittent and severe asthma and provide temporary symptom relief.

Physical Exercise- If one falls into the risk category, one should choose one of these home remedies. The best asthma treatment is breathing exercises because they expand a person's lung capacity. Yoga is among the best exercises if you notice asthma's early signs and symptoms.

Immunotherapy- If medicines are not giving you relief and you notice that your symptoms are worsening over time, your doctor may choose to opt for immunotherapy. In immunotherapy, your doctor will give you specific drugs to boost your immunity system and thus enable your body to fight diseases on its own.

While there is no way in which you can stop yourself from developing asthma, there are ways to control your symptoms or even reduce the severity of your case.

• Understand what triggers your attacks and avoid them.

• Keep a peak flow metre at home and regularly monitor your breathing.

• Take the medicines you have been prescribed regularly.

• Do not put unnecessary strain on your lungs.

• If you notice any exacerbated symptoms, go to your doctor.

• Limit or quit smoking.

• Stay away from areas with an increased incidence of pollution and smoke.

No matter how much you try, you are exposed to many elements that may lead you to develop asthma and a range of diseases. And when there are diseases, there is a need for healthcare. If there is one thing you should know for sure, it is that healthcare is expensive in our country. You can rack up a huge bill if you have a disease that needs regular monitoring and care, you can rack up a huge bill. This is why having a health insurance policy is important.

Other reasons health insurance is very important in our country are;

• Lifestyle- Our lifestyle makes us vulnerable to a host of diseases. We constantly inhale harmful smoke and chemicals, and the food we eat is also not very rich in nutrients, and all of these expose us to developing asthma. So, health insurance for asthma patients is a precaution and a necessity today.

• Covid-19 Insurance- The last two years have taught us how unpredictable things can be as the coronavirus infection affected so many lives. So, buying Covid-19 insurance can help you rest easy knowing that if you ever contract Covid, you can get the best care and make a full recovery.

• Peace of Mind- When you buy a health insurance policy, you know you have done your part in securing your health. You know that you are prepared to take any health situation head-on. It helps you rest easy knowing that no health-related situation will ever have to be a financial burden to you.

• Cashless Hospitalisations- The thing with health issues is that it tends to turn up unannounced. And what do you do when you need sudden hospitalisation? Do you rush to the hospital to get the care you need, or do you rush to the closest ATM or bank to get the money for admission procedures? Therefore, cashless hospitalisation can be a boon for patients. With Tata AIG, you get cashless hospitalisation at our network hospitals, where you can get the care you deserve while leaving the financial side of things to us.

If you wish to buy a health insurance policy with Covid-19 insurance from Tata AIG, you can do so in two ways. You can either buy your policy online in a few simple steps or come to our office and physically buy a policy from us. Both methods are simple and will not take much time.

Follow the steps below, and you will have your policy in hand quickly.

• Online- Most people who buy a policy from us prefer to do so online. This is because buying a policy online affords you flexibility, convenience and the ability to browse the various options present with us.

To buy a health insurance policy online, you must

• Visit our website and look at all the plans and policies we offer. Remember that our policies are customisable, so see which part of which plan appeals the most to you.

• Once you have found a plan that suits your needs, you can click on ‘apply’.

• You will be redirected to a page where you must fill out a form.

• The form will require you to provide your details and any medical history you may have.

• Recheck the details you have filled in.

• You will then have to add the documents you are being asked for.

• Submit the form and your documents after checking the details again.

• You will then be asked to pay the application fees.

Since you have bought your insurance online, your documents will get processed fast, and you will receive your insurance in a matter of moments.

• Offline- If you are not comfortable with online procedures or prefer to go down and get things done physically, you can go to any of our offices to buy a policy offline.

• To buy a policy offline, you first need to locate one of our offices nearest to your location. We have over 200 branches all over the country.

• Once at the office, approach the counter and say that you want to buy a health insurance policy.

• One of our agents will then approach you and explain the different options you can choose from.

• Once you have decided, you will be given a form.

• Fill out the form carefully and attach any relevant documents being asked for.

• Go to the counter, submit your form, and pay the application fees.

• You now need to wait for your insurance which will be sent to you in a few days.

To buy Tata AIG’s health insurance policy, you must submit the following documents.

• ID proof

• Age proof

• Residence proof

• Income proof

• Passport size photographs

• Documents pertaining to your medical history.