Health

World Asthma Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Asthma

World Asthma Day is celebrated annually on the first Tuesday of May. This year, the date is May 2. The annual event is held to raise awareness about asthmatic individuals. It is organised by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) in collaboration with asthma educators and health care organisations. Worldwide, asthma is a prevalent problem. Are you aware that roughly 25 million Americans suffer from asthma? Asthma is an airway chronic disease. Inflammation of the airways leading to the lungs causes obstruction and difficulty inhaling.

The background of World Asthma Day

According to the World Health Organisation, 262 million persons had asthma in 2019, resulting in over 460,000 deaths. Since the 1980s, the fatality rate from asthma has nearly doubled, but the condition is not new. In Chinese writings from 2600 B.C., asthma is mentioned, and ancient Egyptian texts describe the symptoms of shortness of breath and respiratory problems.

Hippocrates (460–370 B.C.) was the first to describe the ancient Greek condition. Hippocrates was the first person to associate asthma symptoms with environmental stimuli and specific occupations. Aretaeus of Cappadocia composed a comprehensive definition of asthma around 100 B.C. It is comparable to our current understanding of the disease’s development. Ancient Romans also investigated the region. Pliny the Elder discovered a correlation between pollen and respiratory difficulties in 50 A.D. He was among the first to recommend a precursor to epinephrine, a fast-acting asthma medication.

During the 19th century, Dr. Henry H. Salter accurately described and drew what occurs in the airways during asthma attacks. William Osler, a co-founder of the Johns Hopkins Medical School, observed similarities between asthma and allergic conditions in 1892. Among these are hay fever and the inherent nature of the disease. He also identified specific asthma triggers, including climate, extreme emotions, and diet. In the 1980s, asthma was better understood as an inflammatory condition. It emphasised the significance of the immune system. Doctors realised that asthma must be managed even in the absence of symptoms.

World Asthma Day Quotes, Messages, Sayings