World Asthma Day: Asthma Care for All

World Asthma Day is celebrated on the first Tuesday of May every year, and the theme this year is “Asthma Care for All”

Highlights:

Asthma is a long-term condition affecting millions of children and adults
Every year, World Asthma Day is celebrated on the first Tuesday of May and the theme this year is “Asthma Care for All”
Middle and low-income countries bear most of the brunt of asthma, and the theme of this year focuses on treatment for all asthma patients

If the sound of an inhaler is no stranger to you, it is probably because millions of people suffer from asthma globally.

World Asthma Day is observed on the first Tuesday of May every year to raise awareness about this pernicious disease. It also aims to highlight the importance of asthma care for everyone suffering worldwide. In 2023, the day falls on May 2, and the theme is ‘Asthma Care for All”.

Asthma - Factors, Common Allergens, Diagnosis, Treatment, Support Groups, FAQs
It's a lung condition characterized by inflammation of the bronchi and constriction of the airways that result in coughing, wheezing or breathlessness. Allergy and other airway irritants can trigger it

‘This World Asthma Day, let’s come together for “Asthma Care for All’’

What is the History Behind World Asthma Day?

World Asthma Day was organized for the first time in 1998 by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA). The day was created to raise awareness of asthma as an increasingly prevalent condition. Asthma affects at least 14% of children worldwide, and the numbers only seem to be increasing. Asthma was recognized as a serious public health concern by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2016. In fact, the WHO calculated that about 340 million people worldwide were suffering from asthma, and that year, over 400,000 people died as a result of this lung condition.

What is the Theme of World Asthma Day 2023?

This year's World Asthma Day theme is "Asthma Care for All," which advocates for increased accessibility and availability of high-quality medical care to reduce the disproportionate number of deaths and hospitalizations caused by asthma in low and middle-income countries due to limited access to asthma care.

World Asthma Day
World Asthma Day 2018 aims to improve asthma awareness and care worldwide.

Why is World Asthma Day Important?

Asthma is the most common chronic disease in both children and adults worldwide. Asthma was identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other regulatory bodies as both a cause and an effect of poverty in low- and middle-income nations. According to the WHO, 262 million people are affected by asthma, with a global mortality rate of 455,000 in 2019.

Asthma is a priority in both the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the World Health Organization's Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, and numerous efforts are implemented to boost asthma diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. Asthmatics in India bear a disproportionately high burden of everyday symptoms, poor effects on quality of life, and absence from school and work.

Public Awareness About Asthma Can Lead to Better Management of the Lung Disease
You can develop at any stage in life, including adulthood. To stay healthy, those diagnosed must always be aware of their individual problem.

How to Can I Celebrate World Asthma Day?

There are multiple ways to celebrate World Asthma Day. Some of which are:

Screen for Asthma:

Get a screening done by a doctor if you or someone you know has difficulty breathing.

Read up About Asthma:

Learn about asthma and do some research. Extend your horizons. Educate yourself about asthma and how to assist someone who is suffering from it.

Use Social Media to Share About World Asthma Day:

It is important to do your best to help those suffering from asthma, and this can be as simple as sharing information about asthma on social media and spreading accurate information about asthma.

Be Charitable and Make a Donation:

Those who are sincerely committed to offering support to those suffering from asthma might want to consider making a donation to a charity that assists those suffering from the disease.

Reference:

May is Asthma Awareness Month - (https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/world_asthma_day.htm)

Source-Medindia