Clearing the Air: Understanding Asthma on World Asthma Day

• Written by Nidhi Goyal

  Reviewed by Munmi Sharma

• favorite0Like

  favoriteBe the First to Like

  • Copy Link Copied! Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share on Twitter Share on WhatsApp

  Share

250 million with bronchial asthma, breath hard to find,

455,000 lost, a tragedy we can't leave behind.

Awareness and action, the change we can make,

Together, we can help every breath they take.

World Asthma Day (WAD) is held each May to raise awareness of Asthma worldwide. Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) organises it on the first Tuesday of May. In 2025, it is celebrated on 6th May with the theme, ‘Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for All.’ This article explains everything you need to know about Asthma in line with celebrating World Asthma Day 2025 to create awareness among the masses. 

Stay connected.

World Asthma Day (WAD) 2025

Hundreds of millions of people who have suffered from asthma, but did all of them have access to essential inhaled medications? The saddest part is that most of the deaths were preventable. The reason is the lack of availability or the high cost of inhaled medications. Also, high-income countries have limited access to essential medicines, which leads to poor asthma control and preventable deaths.

Asthma attacks can lead to hospitalisation, distress and even death. In this event, policymakers, health professionals and industry leaders raise awareness regarding better access to affordable and evidence-based treatments for asthma. 

Motive of World Asthma Day 2025

Living with a breathing disease is a challenge. World Asthma Day focuses on providing the right education to manage asthma successfully. Education increases people's understanding of asthma and empowers them to manage their symptoms and treatment. 

The topics of education include:

• What is asthma?
• What is happening in the lungs?
• Symptoms
• How to use asthma medicines correctly?
• How to reduce exposure to asthma triggers, like smoke, air pollution and tobacco?
• How to assess asthma control?
• How to manage their condition when asthma symptoms worsen.

What is Asthma?

Asthma, now known as bronchial asthma, is a non-communicable disease affecting your lungs. It is a chronic condition which cannot be cured and requires continuous medical treatment. 

The symptoms of asthma are caused by the small airways in your lungs getting inflamed and narrowed, and may result in any combination of the following conditions:

• A cough which persists and increases at night
• A wheezing sound when you breathe, mainly when you exhale, but also when you inhale
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, even while resting 
• Tightness in the chest is making normal breathing difficult

Therefore, an asthma attack, also known as an asthma flare-up, may cause the following, which affects your airways and the muscles around them:

• Bronchospasm: Tightening or constriction of the muscles around your airways, narrowing them and making breathing difficult.
• Inflammation: The lining of your airways gets inflamed and swollen, reducing the air volume in and out of your lungs.
• Mucus Production: Your body increases mucus production, clogging your airways.

Types of Asthma

There are several types of asthma, and each type is triggered differently. The most common types of asthma are as follows:

• Intermittent Asthma: It is the mildest form of asthma, in which asthma symptoms don’t occur consistently. One can have no symptoms for a long time. 
• Persistent Asthma: This form of asthma means that you suffer from the symptoms most of the time, in mild, moderate or severe forms. 
• Allergic Asthma: Your allergies may trigger asthma. Common allergens include pollen grains from flowers, dust-like moulds formed by spores of certain fungi, and pet dander from the fur or feathers of animals or birds.
• Non-Allergic Asthma: This type of asthma is caused by external factors. Flare-ups may result from illness, stress, weather, or exercise.
• Seasonal Asthma: People suffering from allergic asthma face it only during certain times of the year. The triggers may cause an asthma flare-up due to allergens appearing only during certain times of the year, such as hay fever season or when it is cold, i.e., between late March and September
• Occupational Asthma: Occupational asthma is caused by irritating substances like dust, fumes, chemicals or fur in the workplace. The symptoms from this type of asthma disappear as soon as you stop your exposure to the irritants that trigger it.
• Exercise-Induced Asthma: This type of asthma is triggered by the narrowing or squeezing of your airways during exercise. It may cause coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing or other symptoms during or after completion of exercise. This is medically referred to as bronchoconstriction.

Causes of Asthma

A combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors causes asthma. Research has not determined why some people develop asthma while others do not.

However, there are certain factors which increase the risk of getting asthma:

1. Allergies: Allergies increase the probability of you suffering from asthma.

2. Environmental Factors: These are especially harmful for infants and toddlers who have yet to develop their immune systems. Such factors include exposure to substances that may irritate their airways, such as toxins, allergens, and fumes.

Note: Exposure to smoking or tobacco smoke in any form, including second-hand smoking (being in the presence of someone who is smoking) or third-hand smoking (getting exposed to the clothes of someone who has smoked or being in a place where someone has smoked) may be a reason for the development of asthma.

3. Genetic Factors: People with a family history of asthma or other allergic diseases are more likely to develop them.

4. Respiratory Infections: Certain respiratory diseases can also damage young children's lungs during their developmental stage.

5. Lifestyle and Behavioural Factors: Obesity and physical inactivity can lead to poor lung function. It can develop asthma or make the symptoms worse.

6. Stress: Anxiety and stress can trigger asthma attacks as stress hormones narrow the airways and cause inflammation.

What are the 4 Stages of Asthma?

Asthma may be classified into four stages depending on the symptoms, and to determine the extent of asthma in a person. These are the four stages  which are generally used in medical parlance:

Stage 1 – Mild Intermittent Asthma

• Your symptoms flare up less than twice a week.
• You do not face any problems during these flare-ups.
• You only face short flare-ups ranging from a few hours and a few days.
• You experience these symptoms at night less than two times a month.

Stage 2 – Mild Persistent Asthma

• Your symptoms flare up more than twice a week, but do not happen more than once a day.
• Your activity levels get affected by these flare-ups.
• You experience these symptoms at night more than two times a month.

Stage 3 – Moderate Persistent Asthma

• You show symptoms every day.
• You need to use your rescue medication daily.
• Your symptoms flare up two times a week or more frequently.
• Your activity levels get affected by these flare-ups.
• You experience these symptoms at night more than once a week.

Stage 4 – Severe Persistent Asthma

• You have symptoms constantly.
• You face a decrease in the levels of your physical activity.
• You have frequent attacks or flare-ups.
• You experience these symptoms at night frequently.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Asthma

Asthma is diagnosed by reviewing your symptoms and medical history, including your family health history. You will need to provide details of any previous allergies and lung diseases. The doctor may ask you to undergo spirometry to measure the airflow through your lungs, as well as X-rays, blood, and skin tests, if necessary.

The following options may help manage your asthma:

Bronchodilators

Medicines relax the muscles around your airways to allow free movement of air and move mucus through them. They treat your symptoms as they happen and are used in cases of chronic and intermittent asthma. They may be administered through an inhaler or nebuliser.

Anti-inflammatory Medicines

These are used to reduce the swelling and production of mucus in your airways, thus making the entry and exit of air in your lungs easier. These need to be taken daily.

Biological Therapies

These are used in treating severe cases of asthma when the symptoms remain despite regular and proper inhaler therapy.

Positive Impact of World Asthma Day on Public Health

The World Health Organisation has dedicated a day to raising awareness among asthma patients about self-management education. They address people living with asthma and their families using digital technology. GINA supports better asthma management by providing resources through the World Asthma Day Internet Headquarters. These tools aid in minimising school and work absences, reducing emergency visits, etc. Further benefits are:

• Lower overall healthcare expenditures for asthma management
• Enhance medical compliance in people living with asthma
• Minimise hospitalisations and emergency interventions
• Promote health and productivity

Conclusion: Managing Asthma 

You may prevent an asthma attack by avoiding the triggers that cause the symptoms to flare up. However, you cannot stop yourself from getting asthma. Thankfully, in the case of children, there is a very high chance of their asthma going away as they grow up. You may live a normal life with asthma, participating in sports and other activities. However, you must be careful, avoid the triggers causing the attacks, and manage the symptoms.

Asthma, being chronic in nature, is considered to be a pre-existing disease or pre-existing condition by health insurance companies. Care Health Insurance covers asthma as a pre-existing disease with a mandatory waiting period per policy terms and conditions. Policies like Care Supreme and Care Advantage offer an optional add-on rider – Modification of PED Waiting Period, where you may choose to pay an additional amount to reduce the waiting period to 1 or 2 years as per the terms and conditions of the plans.

>> Also Read: Does Your Health Insurance Provide Coverage for Asthma

Disclaimer: All plan features, benefits, coverage, and claims underwriting are subject to policy terms and conditions. Kindly refer to the brochure, sales prospectus, and policy documents carefully.