World Asthma Day 2022: ABC of Asthma

World Asthma Day is celebrated on 3rd of May 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

This day was founded by the Global Initiative for Asthma in collaboration with the World Health Organisation in 1993. World Asthma Day was first observed in 1998 in more than 35 countries.

World Asthma Day Theme 2022

The theme for 2022 Asthma Day is ‘Closing Gaps in Asthma Care’. This year's theme is about clearing all the misconceptions related to asthma. It is about removing the shame and complications of asthma.

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease affecting the ability of the lungs. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, asthma causes difficulty breathing due to the narrow airways in the body. An asthmatic person can exercise well with  controlled symptoms. It can occur to anyone at any age, asthma is a non-infectious disease that can be controlled with a correct diagnosis.

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Symptoms

Wheezing is the most common symptom of asthma, however, not everyone experiences similar symptoms. Some may come across symptoms of asthma throughout the day. Others may find it while doing a particular exercise.

Here is the list of symptoms an asthmatic person can feel-

• coughing, especially at night, while laughing, or during exercise
• fatigue
• pain chest
• fast breathing
• sensitive to infection
• trouble sleeping.
• tightness in the chest
• shortness of breath
• difficulty talking

Some of the emergency asthmatic symptoms are-

• difficulty walking or talking
• blue lips or fingernails
• gasping for air
• Feeling confused and dizzy
• pale lips or fingernails
• Severe problem while breathing

Causes

Researchers believe that the exact cause of Asthma is yet not identified. However, it occurs due to various reasons as mentioned  below-

• Health conditions, especially respiratory health issues.
• History of infectious viruses
• Extreme weather conditions
• Pests
• Environment irritants
• Intense emotions
• Hygiene hypothesis

Preventions

• Reduce exposure to allergens: If dust, pollen or mould-like allergens trigger you, avoid coming in contact with it.
• Eat healthily: Your doctor must have prescribed you the proper diet that will help to control the symptoms.
• Avoid triggers: Stay away from smells, food, environment or any other product that causes you difficulty.
• Quit smoke if you smoke: Triggers like smoke 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.