World Asthma Day

World Asthma Day is an annual event held on the first Tuesday of May under the auspices of the Global Initiative for Asthma Action (GINA) with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO), which was first held in 1998. The theme for 2025 is: "Making inhaled treatment accessible to ALL".

Bronchial asthma is is a chronic inflammatory disease characterised by obstruction (narrowing) and swelling of the airways. As a result, the amount of air that enters the lungs decreases, leading to shortness of breath, dyspnoea and coughing.

Factors that contribute to the onset of bronchial asthma:

• hereditary predisposition (if one of your relatives had asthma, you are automatically at risk);
• allergens (dust and dust mites, mould), pets (wool, feathers, saliva, etc.), household chemicals;

• bad habits and working conditions (smoking can be a factor that triggers bronchial asthma; exposure to various chemical irritants, especially in the workplace);

• low birth weight and/or maternal smoking during pregnancy;
• frequent respiratory illnesses;
• obesity;
• low physical activity;
• adverse weather conditions (cold air);
• Strong emotional (fear or anger) and physical stress can cause symptoms to worsen or complications of asthma to develop.

Basic measures for the prevention of bronchial asthma

• Preventing contact with a known allergenic product (object).
• Cleaning of premises; minimum number of carpets, soft toys, books in children's rooms and bedrooms; control over the cleanliness of pets.
• Smoking cessation, including the elimination of secondhand smoke (useful information on smoking cessation is available at stopsmoking.org.ua).
• Use of hypoallergenic household items (if you cannot give up household chemicals, use rubber gloves and a mask).
• Proper and healthy nutrition with quality products with a minimum amount of food additives; thorough washing of products.
• Timely and correct treatment of respiratory infections as prescribed by doctors.
• Avoid self-medication, as some medications can cause asthma.
• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, strengthening the immune system, hardening, and regular exercise.

Stay active! Even if you don't go in for sports, motivate yourself to go for a walk every day in any weather. Take care of yourself and stay healthy!

You should know that in Ukraine has the Government's Affordable Medicines programme, which provides patients with bronchial asthma with medicines free of charge or with a small surcharge, as this disease significantly reduces the patient's quality of life.

https://ginasthma.org/wad-2025/

https://phc.org.ua/news/bronkhialna-astma-scho-treba-znati-pro-zakhvoryuvannya;

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/symptoms-causes/syc-20369653

Doctor of municipal hygiene

V. Podavalenko