World Asthma Day – History, Significance
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World Asthma Day [May 2]: History, Significance, FAQs
World Asthma Day is an annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma on the first Tuesday in May. Asthma is a major public health crisis that needs to be talked about more through initiatives like World Asthma Day.
The World Health Organization reports that in 2019, around 262 million people were affected by asthma. Global health agencies are trying to manage this crisis In this article, we have shared more about World Asthma Day, its theme, history and significance.
World Asthma Day
World Asthma Day, also known as Vishwa Asthma Divas, is an annual day dedicated to raising awareness about asthma, its causes, symptoms and treatment. Although asthma cannot be completely cured, the management of the disease lowers the chances of Asthma attacks, episodes, or exacerbation.
Asthma Day was started by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) and was first held in 1998. GINA is a collective of the World Health Organization and works in healthcare. Learn more about World Asthma Day from the information shared in the table below.
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a respiratory disease that attacks the lungs and causes breathlessness. It is a long-term condition that can affect children and adults. On World Asthma Day, the GINA aimed to address some of the most common myths and misconceptions surrounding asthma:
Myth: Asthma is a childhood disease and it will go with age.
Reality: Although it often starts in childhood, asthma is not a childhood disease and can last a lifetime.
Myth: Asthma is infectious
Reality: Asthma is not infectious. However, viral respiratory infections can trigger asthma attacks.
Myth: People with Asthma should not do physical exercise
Reality: People with asthma can engage in physical exercise and even sports if their asthma is well-managed.
Asthma Day – History
The first World Asthma Day was observed in 1998 with the participation of more than 35 countries. With an increasing number of participants each year since then, Asthma Day has become one of the most significant asthma awareness and education events worldwide. But how did it start? Here are the details about the history of World Asthma Day.
- Global Initiative for Asthma organizes this day every year, in collaboration with the World Health Organization.
- GINA was founded in 1993 in collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO). It holds the World Asthma Day event in May every year to increase awareness regarding the disease.
- The first Asthma Day was held together with the first global asthma meeting held in Barcelona, Spain.
World Asthma Day – About GINA
World Asthma Day is organized and managed by GINA, or the Global Initiative for Asthma. It is celebrated with a specific theme chosen by GINA each year.
- The organization also coordinates the preparation and distribution of the event materials and resources on Asthma Day.
- Further, the task of maintaining the World Asthma Day Internet Headquarters also lies with GINA.
- All activities related to the event worldwide are updated on their website.
World Asthma Day – Significance
World Asthma Day is important because it raises awareness about the disease, along with its symptoms and treatment. If not properly treated, asthma can lead to many other health issues. Asthma can cause breathing difficulties, sleep disturbance, tiredness and poor concentration. Here are some other reasons why Asthma Day is significant:
- This day allows people the opportunity to interact with healthcare professionals about the causes, symptoms and treatment of asthma.
- On World Asthma Day, people get important insight on how to keep themselves safe.
- GINA and other healthcare organizations also do free screening for asthma on this day.
- World Asthma Day also involves advertising, talks and interviews, and community debates and quiz competitions in schools and colleges.
Q. Who started World Asthma Day?
The Global Initiative for Asthma (GIVA) started World Asthma Day in 1998. GIVA is a collective of the World Health Organization. Realizing the severity of the asthma crisis in the world, which grips millions of people every year, GIVA initiated Asthma Day to raise awareness about the disease.
Q. When was the first World Asthma Day event held?
The first World Asthma Day event was held in 1998. The Global Initiative for Asthma organized the celebration for the first Asthma Day, which was joined by 35 countries worldwide. Since then, World Asthma Day is celebrated every year by several countries around the world.