World Asthma Day

Spending time with your family is one of the best recreational activity for any human being. When all the elders, youngsters and toddlers are together and just spending time with each other makes for many memorable moments. It’s not a surprise that even I enjoy spending time with my family. Going for a picnic or a movie or just a long drive lifts up your spirits. But, sometimes these happy moments can turn into bitter memories also and I had to learn it the hard way.

Six months ago, me and my family were going out for a picnic. We packed everything that is needed and loaded up our car. Half way through the journey I suddenly experienced a problem in my breathing. I was unable to take proper breaths and was feeling suffocated. As the time went on it only worsen and by now I was sweating profusely. We rushed to the hospital and after taking some medications my breathing came to normal.

The ​pulmonologist advised me to undergo a few tests in order to know the exact cause of the issue. I underwent them and after the reports came out it was confirmed that I had asthma. I was pretty devastated because I knew asthma had no cure. But the doctors were very supportive and gave me the confidence that although asthma can’t be cured it can be kept under control by avoiding the trigger agents and following certain medications.

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the airways or bronchial tubes that allow air to come in and out of the lungs. These airways are always inflamed if you have asthma. Every asthmatic has a trigger agent (air pollution, dust mites, insects, smoke, excessive exercise etc.) that causes even more swelling of the airways and tightens the muscles around the airways. This makes air movement in the lungs difficult and results in symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and/or chest tightness.

This is what I came to know about Asthma from the doctors. I wanted to learn more about it and hence took it up to internet. I always thought that asthma affected only young children, below 5 years of age. But I learnt that although asthma often starts in childhood, it can affect people of all ages. Further search has helped me know about an event called World Asthma Day.

World Asthma Day is an annual event organised by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to improve asthma care and awareness around the world. World Asthma Day is observed on the first tuesday of May every year since 1998. World Asthma Day came into effect in 1998 after the conclusion of first “World Asthma Meeting” held in Barcelona, Spain in which more than 35 countries participated.

With proper support from my family, friends and doctors I have been able to cope with my asthma. I take proper medication and stay away from the trigger agents. I know how hard it is to live in constant danger of an asthma attack but with proper help I have overcome that fear. I will be participating in the volunteer works organised on World Asthma Day from this year and help others asthmatics to overcome the fear and live life happily.

If you feel that your symptoms are not subsiding, consult a pulmonologist immediately. You can now book an appointment online through Apollo Edoc.