World Asthma Day 2018: You Can Control Your Asthma

The World Asthma Day is observed every year on the first Tuesday of May. The event is organized on an international level by the GINA (Global Initiative for Asthma). The aim is to bring about awareness and to control asthma all around the world.

This year it will be observed on May  1st, 2018. The Day was first celebrated in the year 1998 by GINA in Barcelona, Spain and was observed in at least 35 countries around the world.

The GINA organizes programmes every year in association with other people like healthcare associations and asthma educators. The theme for such programmes is ‘it’s time to control asthma’. But a singular theme is decided by GINA to be observed on the Day every year. Once the theme is decided the organization distributes the materials to be used along with the other possessions necessary in organizing programmes.

On this Day, various activities that bring about awareness about the disease are organized at public places.  The aim of these activities is to decrease the burden that asthma is associated with. It is the responsibility of each and every individual to help control it.

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a common long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. These episodes may occur a few times a day or a few times per week.

It is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Environmental factors include exposure to air pollution and allergens. Other potential triggers include medications such as aspirin and beta blockers. Diagnosis is usually based on the pattern of symptoms, response to therapy over time, and spirometry.

There is no cure for it. Symptoms can be prevented by avoiding triggers, such as allergens and irritants, and by the use of inhaled corticosteroids. Long-acting beta agonists (LABA) or anti leukotriene agents may be used in addition to inhaled corticosteroids if asthma symptoms remain uncontrolled.

As per the statistics, in 2013, 242 million people globally had asthma up from 183 million in 1990. It caused about 489,000 deaths in 2013, most of which occurred in the developing world.

Objectives of the Day

The various events and programmes organized by GINA are aimed at fulfilling these objectives:

• To maximize the number of people living without it and to bring down the number of people suffering from asthma
• To give proper treatment at every level and as per standard guidelines
• To decrease the mortality rate caused by it
• To ensure that all people suffering  get proper treatment

What are the symptoms of Asthma?

Early warning signs are changes that happen just before or at the very beginning of an asthma attack. These signs may start before the well-known symptoms of asthma and are the earliest signs that your asthma is worsening.

In general, these signs are not severe enough to stop you from going about your daily activities. But by recognizing these signs, you can stop an asthma attack or prevent one from getting worse. Early warning signs of asthma include:

• Frequent cough, especially at night
• Losing your breath easily or shortness of breath
• Feeling very tired or weak when exercising
• Wheezing or coughing after exercise
• Feeling tired, easily upset, grouchy, or moody
• Decreases or changes in lung function as measured on a peak flow meter
• Signs of a cold or allergies (sneezing, runny nose, cough, nasal congestion, sore throat, and headache)
• Trouble sleeping

Symptoms of an Asthma Attack

An asthma attack is the episode in which bands of muscle surrounding the airways are triggered to tighten. This tightening is called bronchospasm. During the attack, the lining of the airways becomes swollen or inflamed and the cells lining the airways produce more and thicker mucus than normal.

All of these factors — bronchospasm, inflammation, and mucus production — cause symptoms such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and difficulty performing normal daily activities. Other symptoms of an asthma attack include:

• Severe wheezing when breathing both in and out
• Coughing that won’t stop
• Very rapid breathing
• Chest pain or pressure
• Tightened neck and chest muscles, called retractions
• Difficulty talking
• Feelings of anxiety or panic
• Pale, sweaty face
• Blue lips or fingernails

The severity of an asthma attack can escalate rapidly, so it’s important to treat these asthma symptoms immediately once you recognize them.

How can Asthma be treated?

While there is no cure, inhalers can be used to prevent and relieve the symptoms. Speak to your doctor for further advice on these.

Activities on World Asthma Day

The month of May is known as the Asthma Awareness Month when the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) is organized to increase awareness about the ways to control and to fulfill the explicit needs of the asthmatic patients such as proper medication and prevention inflammations and environmental causes  such as dust mites and tobacco smoke.

Patients  are motivated through many activities to use inhaled corticosteroids which help to control it. Some of these activities are:

• Free checkup camps
• Patients are motivated for their scheduled follow-up visits at the regular intervals of six months.
• Opening of new clinics and pharmacy clinics
• Various awareness messages are sent to public media.
• Quiz competitions, debate, symposium etc are organized to create awareness.
• Awareness posters and banners are distributed.

So let’s spread awareness and control asthma!