World Asthma Day: All you should know about the History and Significance of the day

Team Udayavani, May 5, 2020, 6:36 PM IST

World Asthma Day is organised by Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to increase awareness about asthma and its management for people around the world.

It is observed annually on first Tuesday of May and the theme of World Asthma Day 2020 is “Enough Asthma Deaths”.

In 1998, first World Asthma Day was celebrated in more than 35 countries in conjunction with the first World Asthma Meeting in Barcelona, Spain

Asthma is an inflammatory disease where swelling in airways causes them to narrow and produce mucus. This makes it hard for air to enter lungs. Symptoms of Asthma are Wheezing, Breathlessness, Coughing, Chest tightness or pain and Shortness of breath due to which person not able to breathe properly.

Although Asthma cannot be cured, it can be managed properly with the right treatment at the right time and it can be controlled to prevent patients from having asthma attacks.

Various activities take place around the world on this day, but this year due to pandemic the events have been postponed.

Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) has also asked everyone perform an activity on this day.

It has asked everyone to take a minute, breathe deeply and hold your breath:

1.In solidarity to all those suffering from SARS-CoV2 brutal attack

2.In support of the brave professionals and policy makers assisting those with COVID-19 and preventing further transmission of the virus

3.To praise all sleepless researchers trying to generate and disseminate knowledge to inform wise decisions to fight the pandemic