Every year, the first Tuesday of May (May 5 in 2021) is observed as World Asthma Day, to spread awareness about this chronic lung disease and to recognise the struggles of people suffering from it.

World Asthma Day provides a common platform to researchers, pharmacists, pulmonologists and other stakeholders to take required actions in order to address the rising prevalence of asthma in the world.

The annual observance is organised by the US-based Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA).

It may be mentioned here that GINA is a medical guidelines organisation and it works with public health officials and health care professionals globally to reduce asthma prevalence, morbidity, and mortality.

The theme for World Asthma Day this year is "Uncovering Asthma Misconceptions", which asks the stakeholders to address common widely held myths and misconceptions regarding the disease.

"The misconceptions prevent persons suffering from asthma from enjoying optimal benefit from the major advances in the management of this condition," reported News18 quoting GINA.

Observing the first Tuesday of May as the World Asthma Day began in 1998 and it was celebrated in over 35 countries and the first meeting was held in Barcelona, Spain.

It may be mentioned here that according to the Global Asthma Report 2018, around 1000 people globally die every day owing to asthma.

The disease also affects around 339 million individuals every year. When the disease remains undiagnosed and untreated in most of the kids, it leads to their death.

World Health Organisation (WHO) identifies Asthma as a public health problem not just for high-income countries.

Every country is affected by asthma, regardless of the level of development.

WHO has further informed that most asthma-related deaths occur in low- and lower-middle-income countries.

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