World Asthma Day 2024 – What is the significance of Asthma Day

Asthma is a chronic health condition caused due to airway inflammation and constriction. Many people are affected by it globally, and World Asthma Day is observed to raise awareness. 

If you’re unsure why this day holds so much importance, this article is for you. Read till the end to know why it’s important and how you can play your role to make lives easier for people suffering from this chronic health condition. 

What Is World Asthma Day? 

Every year, on the first Tuesday of May, the world unites to raise awareness about asthma – a chronic respiratory condition affecting millions globally. This day, designated as World Asthma Day, was spearheaded by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) in 1998, a collaborative organization founded by the World Health Organization.

Why Is World Asthma Day Celebrated? 

This day highlights the challenges faced by asthma sufferers and underscores the importance of effective asthma control and education. Through various activities and campaigns, World Asthma Day unites individuals and organizations to raise awareness and help individuals suffering from this serious health issue. 

World Asthma Day is a powerful call to action for governments, healthcare organizations, and research institutions to collaborate to improve asthma care globally. This includes:

• Providing access to essential medications. Ensuring the affordability and availability of inhalers and other asthma medications is crucial, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
• Supporting research and development. Continued research is necessary to improve diagnostic tools, personalize therapies, and ultimately find a cure for asthma.
• Building capacity and infrastructure. Strengthening healthcare systems by training healthcare professionals in asthma management and establishing specialized asthma clinics is essential.

Understanding Asthma 

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways in the lungs. These airways are the pathways through which air enters or leaves the lungs. When you’re suffering from asthma, the airways become narrow and produce more mucus due to inflammation. The pathway for the passage of air reduces which leads to difficulty in breathing. Asthma symptoms can be mild or severe. 

Signs and Symptoms of Asthma 

The signs and symptoms of asthma include: 

• Coughing, especially at night or in the early morning
• Wheezing is a whistling sound when you breathe, especially when exhaling
• Shortness of breath
• Chest tightness, pain, or pressure in your chest

Diagnosis and Treatment of Asthma

For a disease like asthma, for which we don’t yet cure, early diagnosis and treatment can help the patients live better lives. 

Diagnosis of Asthma

Doctors usually diagnose asthma based on a medical history and a physical exam. They may also order tests, such as spirometry or lung function tests, to measure how well your lungs work. Based on the functioning of your lungs, they can diagnose asthma. Early diagnosis is essential for the effective treatment and management of asthma. 

Treatment of Asthma

Inhalers are the primary treatment doctors recommend to people suffering from asthma. Some medications can also be used to relieve the symptoms. There are two main types of asthma medications:

Quick-relief medications:

These are used to relieve asthma symptoms during an asthma attack. These medications are usually inhaled bronchodilators, which relax the muscles around the airways and open them up. These include Albuterol (ProAir HFA, Proventil HFA, Ventolin HFA), Levalbuterol (Xopenex HFA, Metaproterenol, Terbutaline and others. 

Long-term control medications:

These are used to prevent asthma symptoms from developing. These medications may include inhaled corticosteroids, which reduce inflammation in the airways, and leukotriene modifiers, which block the action of leukotrienes, chemicals that cause airways to narrow. Some long-term control medications are Singulair, Flovent, Advair, Pulmicort, Symbicort and QVAR. 

In addition to medication, you should also focus on managing your asthma to avoid it becoming too serious. Here are some things that you can do to manage your asthma better: 

• Identifying and avoiding your asthma triggers
• Creating an asthma action plan with your doctor
• Getting regular checkups with your doctor
• Quitting smoking if you smoke

What Is the Theme for World Asthma Awareness Day 2024?

The theme for World Asthma Day 2024 is “Asthma Education Empowers,” and it highlights the importance of educating people on the effective management and treatment of asthma. Education helps the patients and their families to recognize the symptoms, treatment options and proper inhalation techniques so that people suffering from Asthma can breathe easily. 

What Color Is Asthma Awareness? 

The ribbon colour for Asthma Awareness Month is grey. During Asthma Awareness Month, you might see grey ribbons or other items being used to raise awareness about this condition.

What to Do on World Asthma Day? 

You can contribute to World Asthma Day to make the lives of those suffering from this condition easy. Here are some things that you can do: 

• Start with learning about asthma.
• Educate yourself about the condition, its symptoms, and management strategies. Numerous resources are available online from reputable organizations like GINA and the WHO.
• Spread awareness about this condition.

Talk to friends, family, and colleagues about asthma. Sharing your knowledge can help dispel myths and promote understanding. You can also use social media to raise awareness and use relevant hashtags such as #WorldAsthmaDay #AsthmaAwareness, #AsthmaAwarenessDay, #AsthmaAwarenessMonth, 

• Support your local organizations.

Support organizations working towards improving asthma care and access to treatment.