World Asthma Day

World Asthma Day is a global holiday dedicated to raising awareness about asthma. This respiratory disease is characterized by difficulty breathing, wheezing, and in severe cases, suffocation. During an asthma attack, a special inhaler is often necessary to stop the symptoms. World Asthma Day is observed annually on the first Tuesday of May.

History

The history of World Asthma Day began in 1998 when the holiday was established by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA). The main goals of this initiative are to help develop better inhalers and to conduct information campaigns to raise public awareness about the disease.

The earliest written descriptions of asthma date back to ancient Greece. Around the 1st century B.C., Aretaeus wrote a detailed account of the disease. Later, the connection between asthma attacks and plant pollen was discovered.

In the 1800s, H. H. Salter provided a modern understanding of asthma by accurately describing the disease and mapping the respiratory system. He identified inflammation in the airways as the cause of asthma symptoms and highlighted various triggers, including climate conditions, stress, and certain foods. By the end of the 20th century, the medical community had a solid understanding of asthma, and treatment became essential, even if the disease rarely manifested.

Interesting Facts

• Approximately 25 million people in the United States have asthma.
• The active ingredients in inhalers help dilate the bronchi, ease breathing, and stop an asthma attack.
• While asthma is incurable, modern therapies allow for the disease to enter sustained remission.

How to Celebrate

If you have friends or family members who suffer from asthma, take the time to talk to them. Learn about how they manage the disease and how it affects their daily lives. Consider donating to organizations that fund treatments for children with severe respiratory illnesses.

Share information about the holiday on social media and ask others what they know about asthma.

When is World Asthma Day in 2025?

World Asthma Day is observed on the first Tuesday in May each year.

Observations