World Asthma Day is observed on the first Tuesday of May every year. It is organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), a World Health Organization collaborative organization founded in 1993. The day is observed to increase awareness about asthma and its management across the world.

World Asthma Day 2022 is observed on May 3. The theme for this year's Asthma Day is 'Closing Gaps in Asthma Care’.

The first World Asthma Day, in 1998, was celebrated in more than 35 countries in conjunction with the first World Asthma Meeting held in Barcelona, Spain.

In 2020, World Asthma Day was observed on May 5 and the theme was Enough Asthma Deaths.

In 2023, World Asthma Day will be observed on May 2.

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a non-communicable disease affecting both children and adults. It is mainly caused when the air passages in the lungs narrow down to inflammation and tightening of the muscles.
Asthma's severity varies from person to person and greatly depends on viral infections, dust, smoke, fumes, weather conditions, pollen, animals, soaps, and perfume.

Asthma affected an estimated 262 million people in 2019 and caused 4,61,000 deaths, as per WHO records.

"People with under-treated asthma can suffer sleep disturbance, tiredness during the day, and poor concentration. Asthma sufferers and their families may miss school and work, with a financial impact on the family and wider community. If symptoms are severe, people with asthma may need to receive emergency health care and they may be admitted to the hospital for treatment and monitoring. In the most severe cases, asthma can lead to death," the WHO says.

People with asthma require an inhaler. There are two main types of inhalers: bronchodilators like salbutamol and steroids like beclometasone.

What are the symptoms of asthma?

The common symptoms of asthma are cough, wheeze, shortness of breath, and tightness in the chest.
Asthma symptoms are intermittent and worsen at night and during exercise.

Among other common symptoms of asthma are anxiety, early awakening, fast heart rate, or throat irritation.

Who is at greater risk?

Overweight or obese individuals are at a greater risk of asthma.
People who have allergic conditions like eczema and rhinitis have a higher risk of developing asthma.

Those with a family history of asthma are more likely to develop asthma.

Apart from this low-birth weight, prematurity, exposure to tobacco smoke and other sources of air pollution, as well as viral respiratory infections also make an individual susceptible to asthma.

How can it be prevented?

Asthma can not be cured; however, it can be managed.
On handling asthma, Dr. Inder Mohan Chugh, Director- Pulmonology, Max Hospital Shalimar Bagh told ETimes, "pertaining to the fact that the condition (Asthma) cannot be completely cured, thus efficient management of the disease plays a pivotal role in ensuring a better quality of life. I would like to sensitize the public that timely detection and regular medications are the only way towards the management of the condition, thus people with this condition should not refrain from taking their medications.”

“Attributing to a plethora of factors like lack of awareness among the patients and caregivers, lack of access to the right diagnosis and treatment modality, and in some cases, reluctance to accept the diagnosis, are a few major causes for the rise in asthma cases in the country. Patients with severe to moderate asthma have to take long-term medication daily to control the underlying inflammation and prevent symptoms and attacks," he added.

On asthma, the WHO calls for community awareness as well. "People with asthma and their families need the education to understand more about their asthma, their treatment, triggers to avoid, and how to manage their symptoms at home. It is also important to raise community awareness, to reduce the myths and stigma associated with asthma in some settings," says WHO.