World Asthma Day is organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) which is held on the first Tuesday in May to spread awareness about asthma globally and motivate asthma patients to keep their asthma under control.
The theme for World Asthma Day 2019 is STOP for Asthma where STOP refers to Symptom Evaluation, Test Response, Observe and Assess, and Proceed to Adjust Treatment.
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that affects the airways which carry air to and from the lungs. In people with asthma, the inside walls of airways are swollen. This makes the airways sensitive to irritations and increases the susceptibility to an allergic reaction.
The inflamed or swollen airways make them narrower and reduce the amount of air passing through them. This results in the following signs and symptoms:
The underlying cause of asthma isn’t clear, but it is probably due to a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Asthma can be triggered when people are exposed to various irritants and substances. However, these triggers vary from person to person; some common factors are:
It can worsen the symptoms of asthma with several factors which include:
It is unfortunate to know that there is no way to prevent asthma. But, people with asthma can get a step-by-step plan from their doctor to deal with the symptoms and prevent asthma attacks. This plan includes: