By: Nompilo
The Power of Knowledge: How Health Education Can Transform Health…
As a family member of someone living with asthma, I’ve seen firsthand the devastating impact this condition can have on daily life. My mom, who lives in a rural area, had been managing asthma for years. However, there was a period when she stopped taking her bronchodilators as prescribed, convinced that she could manage her symptoms on her own – a decision fueled by cultural beliefs that western medicine was inferior to traditional remedies.
Unfortunately, this decision had dire consequences. She developed another chest condition, which made her breathing even more difficult. She would often experience wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath, even after minimal physical activity. Simple tasks like cooking and gardening left her gasping for air.
But everything changed when she received health education from a physiotherapist. The physiotherapist took the time to explain the importance of medication adherence, proper inhaler technique, and breathing exercises to help manage her asthma. My mom learned about the benefits of diaphragmatic breathing, lung expansion exercises, and how to pace her activities to avoid exacerbating her symptoms.
Armed with this new knowledge, my mom went back to taking her medication as prescribed and started incorporating the physiotherapist’s recommendations into her daily routine. She began to notice significant improvements in her breathing and overall health.
Health education is a crucial component of physiotherapy. By empowering patients with knowledge about their condition and how to manage it, physiotherapists can help them take control of their health and achieve better outcomes. My mom’s story is a testament to the transformative power of health education.