World Asthma Day, 7 May 2019

Calls on healthcare providers worldwide to STOP for asthma!

On World Asthma Day, the MTS joins the Global Initiative for
Asthma (GINA) and other founding members of the Forum of International
Respiratory Societies (FIRS) in recognising this year’s theme: “STOP for
asthma.” FIRS calls on global healthcare providers to STOP for asthma and
evaluate symptoms, test response to therapy, observe and assess, and
finally proceed to adjust treatment.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 235 million people
suffer from asthma, which can cause wheezing, breathlessness, chest
tightness, and coughing. Although asthma cannot be cured, it is possible to
control the disease to reduce and prevent asthma attacks, also called
episodes.

Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children. It is not just a
public health problem for high income countries: it occurs in all countries
regardless of level of development. Over 80 percent of asthma deaths occur
in low and middle-income countries. Asthma is under-diagnosed and
under-treated, creating a substantial burden to individuals and families
and possibly restricting individuals’ activities for a lifetime.

Asthma attacks cause adults to miss work and children to miss school. These
dangerous and sometimes life-threatening episodes reduce the quality of
life for people with asthma. The good news is that we can raise awareness
about asthma and how it can be controlled. People with asthma can prevent
asthma attacks by avoiding asthma triggers like tobacco smoke, mould,
outdoor air pollution, and colds and flu. Asthma episodes can also be
prevented by using inhaled corticosteroids and other prescribed daily
long-term control medicines correctly.

Today is the 21st annual World Asthma Day, an event recognised each May to
raise awareness of asthma worldwide. This World Asthma Day statement is put
forth by GINA, on behalf of FIRS.

World Asthma Day was first held in 1998 and has grown each year to become
one of the most important asthma events globally. On World Asthma Day,
hundreds of awareness-raising activities will take place in countries all
over the world.

Find out more about World Asthma Day here <https://ginasthma.org/wad/>.