World Asthma Day 2021

Uncovering Asthma Misconceptions

GINA 2021 Report Summary & World Asthma Day Meeting of the GINA Advocates:
World Asthma Day 2021: A meeting of the GINA Advocates discussing the burden of asthma around the world. The meeting includes a summary of the 2021 Global Initiative for Asthma report featuring Dr. Helen Reddel, Chair, GINA Science Committee. In addition, see presentations from our vital group of GINA Advocates that assist with Dissemination and Implementation in their home countries.

World Asthma Day Activities Around The World:

Asthma Misconceptions – India
World Asthma Day – Algeria
World Asthma Day – Egypt
World Asthma Day – India
World Asthma Day – Italy
World Asthma Day – Mexico
World Asthma Day – Nigeria
World Asthma Day – Philippines
World Asthma Day – Turkey

 

World Asthma Day (WAD) (May 5, 2021) is organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma, (GINA) (ginasthma.org), a World Health Organization collaborative organization founded in 1993.  WAD is held each May to raise awareness of Asthma worldwide.

WHO recognizes that asthma is of major public health importance. According to WHO, it was estimated that more than 339 million people had Asthma globally (1) and there were 417,918 deaths due to asthma at the global level in 2016. (3, 4)

Although asthma cannot be cured, it is possible to manage asthma to reduce and prevent asthma attacks, also called episodes or exacerbations.1

This year’s World Asthma Day theme is “Uncovering Asthma Misconceptions”. The theme provides a call to action to address common widely held myths and misconceptions concerning asthma that prevent persons with asthma from enjoying optimal benefit from the major advances in the management of this condition. Common misconceptions surrounding asthma include:

  1. Asthma is a childhood disease; individuals will grow out of it as they age.
  2. Asthma is infectious.
  3. Asthma sufferers should not exercise.
  4. Asthma is only controllable with high dose steroids.

The Truth is:

  1. Asthma can occur at any age (in children, adolescents, adults and elderly)
  2. Asthma is not infectious. However, viral respiratory infections (such as common cold and the flu) can cause asthma attacks. Or In children, asthma is frequently associated with allergy, but asthma which starts adulthood is less often allergic.
  3. When asthma is well controlled, asthma subjects are able to exercise and even perform top sport.
  4. Asthma is most often controllable with low dose inhaled steroids

This logo may be downloaded, printed, and distributed in accordance with your World Asthma Day celebrations.World Asthma Day Activity Ideas

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Translated Materials:

For this year only, World Asthma Day will be held on Wednesday, May 5. Starting in 2022, World Asthma Day will be held on the first Tuesday in May. Each year GINA chooses a theme and coordinates preparation and distribution of World Asthma Day materials and resources. GINA also maintains the World Asthma Day Internet Headquarters, where materials and resources are posted for downloading and a complete listing of activities around the world is constantly updated.

Future World Asthma Days:
Tuesday, May 3, 2022
Tuesday. May 2, 2023
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Tuesday, May 5, 2026

The first World Asthma Day, in 1998, was celebrated in more than 35 countries in conjunction with the first World Asthma Meeting held in Barcelona, Spain. Participation has increased with each World Asthma Day held since then, and the day has become one of the world’s most important asthma awareness and education events.