World Asthma Day is celebrated on May 3rd every year to raise awareness about asthma. The disease is much more common than we know and every year, millions of people are diagnosed with it.
History:
World Asthma Day was founded by the Global Initiative for Asthma in collaboration with the World Health Organisation in 1993. It was first observed in 1998 in more than 35 countries.
World Asthma Day Theme 2023:
The theme for 2023 Asthma Day is "Asthma care for All" . The theme promotes the development and implementation of effective asthma management programs in all resource countries.
Asthma:
- It is a chronic respiratory disease affecting the ability of the lungs.
- It causes difficulty breathing due to the narrow airways in the body.
- Asthma can occur to anyone at any age and is a non-infectious disease that can be controlled with a correct diagnosis.
- An asthmatic person can exercise well with controlled symptoms.
Symptoms:
- Wheezing is the most common symptom of asthma, but not everyone experiences similar symptoms.
- Some may come across symptoms of asthma throughout the day, while others may find it while doing a particular exercise.
- Symptoms include coughing, especially at night, while laughing, or during exercise, fatigue, pain chest, fast breathing, sensitivity to infection, trouble sleeping, tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, and difficulty talking.
- Emergency asthmatic symptoms include difficulty walking or talking, blue lips or fingernails, gasping for air, feeling confused and dizzy, pale lips or fingernails, and severe breathing problems.
Causes:
The exact cause of asthma is yet not identified, but it occurs due to various reasons such as health conditions, especially respiratory health issues, a history of infectious viruses, extreme weather conditions, pests, environment irritants, intense emotions, and the hygiene hypothesis.
Preventions:
- Reduce exposure to allergens: If dust, pollen, or mold-like allergens trigger you, avoid coming in contact with them.
- Eat healthily: Follow a proper diet prescribed by a doctor that will help control symptoms.
- Avoid triggers: Stay away from smells, food, environment, or any other product that causes difficulty.
- Quit smoking: Triggers like smoking can make your paths difficult and lead to life-threatening diseases.
- Take preventive medicines: Never break the routine of prescribed medicines. It can help you avoid emergencies.