World Asthma Day (WAD) is annually observed across the world on the first Tuesday of May to create awareness about asthma, a condition in which the airways narrow and swell and may produce extra mucus.
- World Asthma Day is organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), a World Health Organization (WHO) collaborative organization founded in 1993.
World Asthma Day (WAD) 2022 falls on 3rd May 2022.
- WAD 2021 was observed on 4th May 2021.
- WAD 2023 will be observed on 2nd May 2023.
The theme of World Asthma Day (WAD) 2022 is ‘Closing Gaps in Asthma Care’.
Background:
i.The first ever World Asthma Day was observed in 1998 in conjunction with the 1st World Asthma Meeting held in Barcelona, Spain.
ii.The first observance of WAD was celebrated in more than 35 countries.
What is Asthma?
i.Asthma is a common lung condition that causes sporadic breathing difficulties that affect people of all ages.
ii.At present, there is no cure for asthma, but treatment to control the symptoms is available.
Cause: Asthma is caused by swelling and narrowing of the tubes that carry air to and from the lungs.
Symptoms: Breathlessness, coughing and wheezing are the symptoms of Asthma attacks. Asthma Attacks can be fatal but largely preventable and manageable.
Note:
Children and adults who are overweight or obese are at a greater risk of asthma.
Key Points:
i.According to WHO, asthma is an underappreciated cause of poverty in low- and middle-income countries.
ii.It holds back economic and social development, affects the health and well-being of those affected, and has a negative impact on families and societies.
