The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) organized World Asthma Day (WAD) on May 2, 2023, to spread awareness of the disease worldwide. For World Asthma Day this year, GINA has chosen the theme “Asthma care for All,” and the message promotes the development and implementation of efficient asthma management programs in all resource nations.
“You can get asthma at any age,” says Dr. Jayakumar, MBBS, MD (pulmonology), DNB (respiratory diseases), MRCP (UK), WSS Certified Sleep Physician Consultant Pulmonologist & Sleep Specialist PSG Hospitals, Coimbatore. “Although it cannot be cured, asthma can be controlled and is not contagious. The usual asthma side effects are cough, particularly at night and early morning associated with chest tightness and wheezing. The majority of asthma attacks are mild. In any case, those assaults can get intense, and individuals can die from a terrible one, particularly if not in regular treatment and follow-up. ”
He emphasized not to self-medicate for asthma, and visit a family doctor or pulmonologist to diagnose and manage asthma safely to lead a normal life.
He advises asthma patients to use their inhalers correctly and as prescribed, to visit their doctors at least once a year for checkups, to request a written action plan from their doctors to know when their asthma is getting worse, and to avoid triggers like pollen, dust, and pets that initiate asthma attacks.
He highlighted the two kinds of Asthma medicines i.e., Preventive medicines (“controllers”) that protect the lungs & keep asthma attacks from starting and Quick-relief medicines (“relievers”) that are used to relieve asthma symptoms when they occur.