The month of May is being observed as Asthma Awareness Month, a time geared towards raising public awareness surrounding asthma.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), inflammation and narrowing of the small airways in the lungs cause asthma symptoms.

Asthma is a common disease that affects millions of people worldwide. According to the WHO, asthma affected an estimated 262 million people in 2019 and caused some 455,000 deaths.

The condition is very prevalent in children locally, with one in five children between two and 17 years having current wheezing, and one in six self-reporting doctor-diagnosed asthma, according to a 2013 local cross-sectional survey.

Asthma can be classified into two main categories: intermittent or persistent. Intermittent refers to a type of asthma that comes and goes, allowing people to feel normal during flares. As the name suggests, persistent refers to people having asthma symptoms for much of the time.

There is currently no cure for asthma; however, there are several treatment options available. The main treatment for asthma is the use of an inhaler, which is a device that allows individuals to breathe in medicine.

Other treatment options include surgery, injections, or taking tablets.

Triggers:

• Allergies
• Cold or Flu infections
• Weather
• Smoke/fumes/pollution
• Mould

It is important for people with asthma to know their triggers and try to avoid them to better control having an asthma attack.

Symptoms:

• Wheezing
• tightening of the chest
• coughing
• breathlessness
• fast heartbeat
• fatigue

What to do if someone is having an asthma attack:

• Try to remain calm
• Encourage them to sit in a comfortable position and take their inhaler. Encourage them to continue using the inhaler if breathing is still a problem.
• If they do not have their inhaler try to get them to an healthcare facility where they can be assisted
• Try to reassure them in the process to avoid panic
• Monitor the individual until they receive medical attention