World Asthma Day (03/05)

World Asthma Day – is an annual event held on the first Tuesday in May under the auspices of the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO). This Day was first held in 1998 in 35 countries and was timed to coincide with the World Forum on Bronchial Asthma. Every year the number of participating countries increases.

The main goal of the – event is to draw public attention to the problem of increasing the incidence of asthma, improve the quality of care for asthmatics and people's awareness of this disease.

Asthma translated from Greek – «heavy breathing». The author of this term is considered to be Hippocrates, and in his works in section «On internal suffering» there are indications that asthma is spastic, causes causing suffocation, – dampness and cold. For many centuries, scientists have tried to study this disease and its causes. In the 20th century, it was determined that the cause of asthma was an allergic reaction, local inflammation of the bronchi in response to an external stimulus (chemical, biological, physical).

Today, the term «asthma» refers to attacks of suffocation of various origins. But more often, asthma refers to bronchial asthma – chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory tract, which occurs as a result of the action of allergens and leads to symptoms of the disease – difficulty breathing or even suffocation, coughing, and wheezing in the chest. The patient reacts to what healthy people do not react to, – to tree pollen, house dust, animal hair, some food, medicine, etc. Sometimes the cause of asthma is very difficult or even impossible to determine.

Attention to the problem is not accidental: according to WHO, asthma – is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world – 360 million people suffer from this disease, with their number increasing by one and a half times every decade. Asthma can occur at any age. But more often it affects small children – in half of patients the disease develops before the age of 10, and in children under 2 years it is difficult to diagnose asthma – it is often hidden under the guise of other diseases.

Asthma can occur at any age, but young children are more likely to be susceptible to it (Photo: ilona75, licensed by depositphotos.com)

Among the risk factors for the appearance and development of asthma: living conditions, climate, work, diet, heredity. Therefore, unfavorable environmental conditions, the use of food additives, synthetic materials, active and passive smoking, burdened heredity and a general deterioration in the health of the planet's inhabitants lead to a constant increase in the number of people susceptible to bronchial asthma.

Asthma – is a global health problem. It affects all countries, regardless of level of development and income. Although it is a low-mortality disease, there has been progress in the study and treatment of asthma, its dangers should not be underestimated. It often leads to disability. In many cases, the patient has to put up with bronchial asthma all his life.

Scientists have been struggling to create a panacea for this serious disease for many years. According to doctors, the medications that exist help control symptoms in patients with bronchial asthma, but do not affect the root cause of their occurrence. But still, with proper treatment, people with this diagnosis remain fully functional and lead a normal lifestyle.

Drug therapy – is not the only way to treat asthma. Today, global standards for the management of such patients have been created; there are international and national guidelines and professional communities where every patient receives recommendations regarding lifestyle and prevention of repeated attacks.

Drug therapy – is not the only way to treat asthma (Photo: Atan, licensed by depositphotos.com)

WHO, coordinating and supporting international efforts to combat asthma and provide care to patients, back in 1989 introduced the «Global Initiative for Asthma » GINA program, which later became an international organization. According to GINA, the success of the fight against bronchial asthma is determined by three components:

1. Disease prevention. To prevent asthma at the state level, it is necessary to take measures to reduce industrial air pollution, reduce the prevalence of smoking, and promote a healthy lifestyle. 2. Implementation and availability of effective diagnostic and treatment methods. Unlike cancer and a number of other diseases, asthma – is a disease with controlled mortality. High-quality medical care received on time reduces the risk of death. 3. Scientific research. The causes of asthma have not been fully established, and treatment methods are still far from perfect.

Therefore, the goal of World Asthma Day – is to disseminate information about this disease and provide asthma patients with access to adequate treatment; increasing people's knowledge about bronchial asthma, informing about the prevention and early diagnosis of the disease; improving the quality of medical care and informing doctors about the latest advances in science.

Each year, the Day's events are dedicated to a specific topic that is determined by GINA. As a rule, they are carried out in each participating country by medical institutions, public organizations with the involvement of volunteers and the media.



• Infographics – poster «World Asthma Day» • Article «Bronchial asthma – is humanity's evil companion»

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