World Asthma Day: During the Crisis of Covid-19

World Asthma Day is organized annually by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to increase awareness about the chronic respiratory disease asthma, its precautions, prevention, and care around the world. Nowadays, this disease is prevalent in children also.

Theme:

This year’s theme is 'Uncovering Asthma Misconceptions', which aims at clearing misconceptions related to the complications of asthma.

Misconceptions related to Asthma:

- Asthma is a childhood disease; an individual can grow out of it as they age
- People suffering from Asthma should avoid exercising
- Asthma can only be controlled with steroids
- Asthma is infectious; others should stay away from it

In 1998, the first World Asthma Day was celebrated in more than 35 countries in conjunction with the first World Asthma Meeting in Barcelona, Spain. As participation increases and the day has become the world's most important asthma awareness and education events. It aims to educate people on how best to get control over this respiratory problem and other allergic diseases.

About Asthma:

Asthma is a long-term chronic lung disorder which affects the lungs and the way that we breathe. It is a non-communicable disease. It is caused due to inflammation in the airways, causes chest tightness, coughing, breathlessness, and can range in severity from mild to life-threatening.

Nowadays, it is the most common chronic condition in children. In this disease, the airways become narrower and are filled with mucus which further blocks the airflow. If asthma is not controlled in time, it could leave a person breathless.

It can be caused due to allergic reactions from dust, smoke, fumes, pollen grains, grass, chemical irritants in the workplace, air pollution etc.

When a person is suffering from an allergic reaction, the airways get swollen, the muscles around it become tighten and make it difficult for air to move in and out of the lungs. There are several types of Asthma disease and various factors are responsible for the cause of the disease.

Symptoms :

Currently, there is no cure for Asthma disease but symptoms can be controlled via treatment.

Some symptoms of Asthma are:

- Wheezing

- Breathlessness

- Coughing

- Chest tightness or pain

- Shortness of breath due to which person not able to breathe properly.

Cure:

Asthma can't be cured, but if managed properly with the right treatment at the right time it can be controlled to prevent patients from having asthma attacks or reduce the number of asthmatic patients.

Special inhaler or daily medicine can be taken for the treatment of Asthma disease.

Also, the patient should avoid going to the smoky area. He or she should know why and how asthma possibility increases.

Asthma patients use inhalers so that they can breathe properly with the help of medicine. This medicine reaches their lungs quickly and starts to make them feel better.

World Asthma Day : Celebration

As on 1st Tuesday of May World Asthma Day is celebrated annually, so May month is considered Asthma Awareness Month.

To encourage the people to take care of their asthma “National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP)” is organized.

But this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, events are not organized on World Asthma Day but it is necessary to follow good handwashing hygiene, proper social distancing and patients of asthma should continue asthma medications as prescribed by the doctor.

Activities Performed:

- To start with the best treatment Asthma free check-up camps are organized.

- In the required areas new asthma clinics and pharmacies are opened.

- In several countries, Asthma Societies celebrates World Asthma Day on the national level.

- Through TV channels and news channels, various awareness messages are distributed like “fighting asthma with every breath”.

- Several schools provide classes to spread awareness about Asthma disease, its symptoms, precautions, and preventions.

- For the awareness of public Asthma posters, banners are distributed in many areas.