World Asthma Day is observed annually on the first Tuesday of May to generate awareness about the disease that affects millions of people, children and adults alike, worldwide every year.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), asthma occurs due to the narrowing of the small airways in the lungs and entails symptoms including cough, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness.

The WHO website notes that most asthma-related deaths are reported in the low and lower-middle-income countries, where under-diagnosis or under-treatment are the major causes of concern.

History of World Asthma Day:

The day was first proclaimed in 1993 by the WHO in collaboration with The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), a sister organization of WHO. GINA works with doctors and public health officials from across the globe to reduce the prevalence, morbidity and mortality rates of the disease.

Significance of World Asthma Day:

Even though the disease has no cure yet, it can be prevented and brought under control by various means, including keeping away from the asthma triggers such as dust, pollution and smoke. World Asthma Day is one of the world's most important asthma awareness and education events when respiratory communities of the world work together to enforce effective asthma care solutions both locally and globally.

Theme of World Asthma Day 2022:

Every year, World Asthma Day is celebrated under different themes which are selected by GINA. The WHO collaboration organization, GINA, has this year selected "Closing Gaps In Asthma Care" as the theme of the event. The theme indicates that GINA will work toward eradicating the various lapse in the asthma treatment spectrum and reducing the costs of asthma treatments.

The GINA, this year, has taken up a number of initiatives including providing equal access to diagnosis and treatment of asthma patients, bridging the gaps between care for different socioeconomic communities, providing education on the care for asthma, and raising asthma awareness among healthcare communities.

Here are some quotes about the disease that show to what extent an asthma-affected person suffers. (Courtesy: Brainy quotes)

  • "A lot of the problems in society nowadays are down to diet and lifestyle - be that obesity, diabetes, asthma caused by smoking or drinking."- Jeremy Kyle
  • "Growing up, I had a hair condition where my hair would fall out easily, and I had bad asthma."- Paige Spiranac
  • "I was diagnosed with asthma when I was 18 during my freshman year at UCLA. I refused to accept it - and I hid it from my coaches and teammates. But ignoring my problem didn't make it go away."- Jackie Joyner-Kersee
  • "I had asthma when I was a kid, asthma so bad that it would turn into pneumonia and I almost died several times. Nobody knew why back then, but now it's obvious."- Don McLean
  • "But you have to take asthma seriously. People do not realise the stress our bodies go under."- Mark Cavendish
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World Asthma Day is observed on the second Tuesday of May each year Pixabay
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