ORGANISED by the Global Initiative for Asthma, (Gina) – a World Health Organization collaborative organization founded in 1993 – World Asthma Day is held each May to raise awareness of Asthma worldwide.
WHO recognizes that asthma is of major public health concern. According to WHO, it was estimated that more than 339 million people had Asthma globally and there were 417,918 deaths due to asthma around the world in 2016.
Although asthma cannot be cured, it is possible to manage asthma to reduce and prevent asthma attacks, also called episodes or exacerbations.1
This year’s World Asthma Day theme is ‘Uncovering Asthma Misconceptions’.
Dr Helmy Haja Mydin, respiratory physician and co-founder of Asthma Malaysia says: “There are a lot of misconceptions regarding asthma such as children with asthma should not play sports or that patients should not use their inhalers too much for fear of addiction/dependence.
“The opposite is true - using the right inhaler correctly and regularly will keep asthma under control and allow both children and adults with asthma to lead an active lifestyle.”
There are also misconceptions that asthma is a childhood disease and people grow out of it as they age; that asthma is infectious; and that asthma is only controllable with high dose steroids.
The reality is that asthma can occur at any age among people of any age group. It is also not infectious, though viral respiratory infections (common cold, flu) can cause asthma attacks.
In children, asthma is frequently associated with allergy, but asthma which starts adulthood is less often allergic. Asthma is most often controllable with low dose inhaled steroids. – The Vibes, May 4, 2021
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