World Asthma Day is an annual event organised by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) in order to improve awareness, care and support of asthma worldwide.

GINA was launched in 1993 in collaboration with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, USA, and the World Health Organization¹.

The event, typically held on the first Tuesday of May, is based around an annual theme chosen by GINA to help educate those diagnosed with asthma and their families on how best to get control over asthma and other allergic diseases.

With asthma affecting more than 339 million people around the world, following its initial launch in 1998, World Asthma day is now recognised as one of the most important asthma awareness and education events globally.

GINAs published activity ideas for World Asthma Day 2022 can be found here

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic lung condition affecting the airways that carry air in and out of your lungs. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing or wheezing when you breathe out, shortness of breath, chest tightness or pain. Whilst there is no cure for asthma these symptoms can be controlled by understanding your triggers and trying to avoid them.

Did you know?

Asthma is the most common chronic disease in children globally. The incidence of asthma is higher in children than in adults with 11.6% of children aged 6-7 affected worldwide. Most children, however, who experience symptoms under the age of 2 outgrow the condition and become asymptomatic by 6-11 years of age.²

Asthma triggers

Symptoms can be exacerbated by triggers including the following:

  • strenuous exercise causing a narrowing of the airways
  • exposure to allergies, such as dust mites and pets
  • environmental irritants, including smoke, chlorine and pollution
  • sudden change in weather, like thunderstorms or high humidity
  • viral respiratory infections and colds

Research by The British Lung Foundation found that asthma affects 12% of the UK population (8 million) however, as some outgrow the condition only 5.4 million people actually receive treatment for the disease.

Asthma treatment

Over 250,000 deaths worldwide are attributed to asthma annually. Asthma can be a life-threatening disease if not properly managed.

Once diagnosed with asthma it is recommended to create an action plan with your doctor or asthma nurse. This plan will include information about your medicines, how to monitor your condition and what to do if you have an asthma attack.

For 95% of asthma sufferers an inhaler is the most common form of medicine used to control asthma symptoms. An inhaler is a device that lets you breathe in the medicine. There are two main types of inhalers:

  • Preventative inhalers: Used on a daily basis to keep asthma under control, containing steroid medicine it treats the airway inflammation that leads to asthma symptoms, reducing or eliminating asthma flare-ups.
  • Quick-relief inhalers: Used as and when needed as a quick relief to open your airways and make breathing easier.

The single most important thing you can do in order to control your asthma is to know when and how to use your inhaler correctly. According to the Global Asthma Report 2018 around 1,000 asthmas sufferers die due to inappropriate management of their condition including over reliance on reliever inhalers rather correct use of their preventative inhaler with asthma attacks killing 3 people in the UK each day.

The best way to therefore prevent an asthma attack is to avoid triggers, be sensitive to the early signs of breathing difficulties, understand the treatment available and ensure appropriate use of this treatment. If, however, you notice symptoms getting worse always speak to your doctor or asthma nurse.

Other things you can do

There are also several other things you can do to lessen the possibility of an asthma attack.

  • Maintain a healthy weight: People with a BMI of 30 or more have a much higher risk of having asthma than those with a lower BMI.
  • Exercise: If you have exercise-induced asthma (EIA) you may want to avoid aerobic exercise, however, regular physical activity such as swimming and walking can help manage a chronic condition.
  • Use natural remedies and medicine: Used alongside your inhaler, your doctor may recommend alternative medicines and natural remedies such as ginger, garlic, caffeine, magnesium supplements and omega-3 oils. Caffeine, for example, is a mild bronchodilator, which means it helps open your airways and garlic and ginger have anti-inflammatory compounds that may ease asthma symptoms.
  • Breathing exercises: Research has found different breathing techniques can help control asthma symptoms such as the Papworth method, Diaphragmatic and Buteyko breathing.
  • Get regular check-ups: Ensure you monitor your conditions with regular contact with your doctor or asthma nurse, including breathing tests and discussions about your medicines.
  • Don’t smoke: Smoking can significantly increase the severity and frequency of the symptoms