World Asthma Day 2023: A Gentle Reminder for Raising Awareness and Improving Care
World Asthma Day 2023: A Gentle Reminder for Raising Awareness and Improving Care
Hyderabad, May 2, 2023: As per the World Health Organization (WHO), Asthma affects around 339 million people worldwide, and it is estimated that by 2025, this number will increase to 400 million. In addition, Asthma causes approximately 250,000 deaths every year, making it a significant public health concern.
Amid the severity and the rising incidence of the disease, World Asthma Day serves as a gentle reminder, which is observed every year on the first Tuesday of May, to raise awareness about Asthma and its impact on individuals and society as a whole. This day is also symbolic to address the myths and misconceptions surrounding Asthma and to improve understanding and awareness of this medical condition. The theme for WAD-2023 – “Asthma Care for All,” addresses the global concerns of Asthma and promotes the development and implementation of effective Asthma management programs in all the countries carrying the burden of Asthma.
Speaking on the seriousness of Asthma, Dr. Viswesvaran Balasubramanian, Consultant Interventional Pulmonologist, Yashoda Hospitals, Somajiguda, Hyderabad says, “Asthma is a serious disease that can be life-threatening if not managed properly. It is the leading chronic disease in children and is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Raising awareness about Asthma can help people recognize the signs of an attack, seek appropriate care, and take steps to prevent future attacks.”
“Spreading awareness around Asthma is essential because it promotes education and understanding among healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the general public. By increasing awareness, we can help reduce the stigma associated with Asthma and ensure that people suffering from Asthma receive the care and support they need in time,” added Dr Balasubramanian.
Management of asthma shall ideally involve regular treatment with inhaled corticosteroids. However, currently, the majority of the Asthma burden in India leading to increased morbidity and mortality is due to over usage of short-acting bronchodilators (commonly known “as needed usage of Reliever Inhaler”) and underuse of inhaled corticosteroids for regular day to day treatment of asthma. Global Initiative for Asthma strives to reduce Asthma burden by reducing the usage of as needed reliever medications and recommending the usage of single inhaler consisting of long-acting bronchodilators with corticosteroids for both as needed and regular day to day treatment of Asthma.
It is also crucial to educate the public about the triggers of Asthma and how to avoid them, such as avoiding smoking and exposure to environmental pollutants. And to know this, one needs to take information from credible sources, which is available on the Healthy Lungs portal (www.thehealthylungs.com) – a one-stop credible knowledge repository on lung diseases. The portal is dedicated to enhancing awareness, busting myths, improving knowledge and motivating patients to adhere to the therapy.
“This is very important to understand that Asthma is a manageable condition, and individuals with Asthma can live healthy, meaningful lives with proper education, awareness, adherence, and access to quality healthcare. Raising awareness around Asthma is the need of the hour”, added Dr Balasubramanian.
