World Asthma Day

Every year on the first Tuesday in May, the globe celebrates World Asthma Day to raise awareness of and concern about asthma. It falls on May 2nd of this year. The Global Initiative for Asthma hosts a yearly occasion. Addressing Gaps in Asthma Care is the focus of the subject this year. In India alone, there are 15 million people with asthma, a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that affects 300 million people globally.
 

History

In 1998, the inaugural World Asthma Day was celebrated. It began as a project of the 1993-founded Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), a medical recommendations organization. The inaugural World Asthma Day was held in Barcelona, Spain, during the International Asthma Congress, and more than 35 nations took part. Since then, World Asthma Day has been celebrated annually on the first Tuesday in May, and during the past 20 years, involvement has multiplied. It is the main occasion to promote asthma awareness and adopt a widespread, cooperative strategy to combat it.

Asthma

Breathing issues are brought on by the lung condition chronic asthma. Breathlessness, coughing, wheezing, and tightness in the chest are all signs of asthma. Both the frequency and intensity of these symptoms vary. When the symptoms are not managed, the airways may swell and make breathing challenging. Despite the fact that asthma cannot be cured, the symptoms may be managed, allowing those who have it to live full lives.
 

It is a chronic illness that causes your airways to constrict, swell, and maybe create more mucus. A person with asthma may have trouble breathing, which can lead to coughing, wheezing, and tightness in the chest.

The Significance of International Asthma Day

The World Asthma Report 2018 states that more than 1,000 people die from asthma every day. The statistics are alarming and need widespread education, access to inexpensive, high-quality healthcare, and a coordinated worldwide strategy. Each year, asthma affects over 300 million people, and what's worse is that it frequently goes undiagnosed and results in premature death. Lives can be saved by early diagnosis and prompt treatment, both of which depend heavily on awareness. 
 
 

Each year, the numbers rise, and unless there is widespread awareness and international collaboration, the disease will continue to spread wildly. The necessity for World Asthma Day results from this.

Why is World Asthma Day significant?

Its purpose is to increase public awareness of respiratory illnesses and to gather medical specialists to assist sufferers.
 
 

The 2023 World Asthma Day Theme

World Asthma Day in 2023 will be dedicated to dispelling asthma myths. This is meant to be a call to action to eliminate common myths and misconceptions about asthma. These untrue notions frequently have detrimental repercussions and contribute nothing to the education of people about asthma. Also, they prevent asthma patients from benefiting from important developments in the care of this condition.
 
 

Following are some common myths and falsehoods concerning asthma:

⦁ Spreading asthma is simple.
⦁ Everyone outgrows their childhood asthma.
⦁ Only high-dosage steroid medication will treat asthma.
⦁ Exercise is not recommended for anyone with this disease.

The World Celebrates International Asthma Day

Across the world, a number of renowned hospitals and health insurance providers host events and gatherings to raise public awareness of asthma. For instance, to raise awareness of growing pollution levels and how they are adversely impacting asthma sufferers, the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Disorders Patients Associations (EFA) developed the website "Know your air for health." 
 
 

Local administrations organize events or take similar actions to support asthma patients. You can inquire about upcoming events for World Asthma Day at your neighborhood hospitals and Organizations.

How Can You Raise Awareness of Asthma in 2023?

Here are some helpful activities you may engage in to support World Asthma Day in 2023:
 
 

⦁ Health professionals might be invited by groups and organizations for a talk on how to identify symptoms and seek treatment.

⦁ Any outdoor activity can be carried out with a small group of asthmatics and medical personnel. It will give valuable information on how asthmatics may manage their condition outside in case a sudden attack happens. Interactive awareness campaigns may be organized by educational organizations including schools, colleges, and universities.
 
 

⦁ During World Asthma Day 2023, everyone may take a short break from their everyday activities to trend #WorldAsthmaDay and #WAD on social media platforms.

⦁ If you have the resources, consider giving money, medical supplies, etc. to nonprofit organizations that are devoted to helping asthma patients get the care they need.