World Asthma Day
May 7, 2024 is World Asthma Day
Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways, and causes increased mucus, inflamed and narrowed airways. This results in shortness of breath, coughing, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, wheezing and fatigue. Asthma, especially if poorly controlled may result in damage such as scarring to the airways.
There are a number of know asthma triggers including dust, smoke, volatile chemicals, strong emotions, infections, exercise, humidity extremes, cold air, and allergens such as dander, pollen and foods.
There are various asthma treatments. Someone may be prescribed one or more medications that helps control asthma long term and a medication that helps quickly with attacks, or to use before exposure to a trigger.
Asthma awareness often focuses on proper diagnosis, having airway healthy environments and appropriate treatment including action plans for managing the condition. Those with asthma should be supported with recognizing when their symptoms are too frequent, severe or a fast acting medication is being used too often so they can discuss adjusting treatment with their physician.
Asthma can take an emotional toll. An attack can be scary and may result in anxious about when one may occur. Someone may have to make changes to their home to reduce triggers. There may be grief related to a decrease in health, forgoing certain activities or limiting exposure to triggers. Asthma can also result in someone feeling isolated if they are not able to be where friends and family are or participating in the same activities.
References:
https://ginasthma.org/world-asthma-day-2024/
https://asthma.ca/
https://ablung.ca/lung-health/asthma/
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/asthma
1. How has asthma impacted you or someone you know?
2. How could you support someone struggling with asthma?
3. What is something you could do (or are already doing!) to help with a healthy air environment?
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@AffyAvo Thanks for posting this check-in for us Affy!
1. How has asthma impacted you or someone you know?
It is a terrible condition to have, struggling for breath or worrying about breathing which must be the most fundamental thing that every living creature must do.
2. How could you support someone struggling with asthma?
I would think about things like the decent contamination, ie: not wearing perfume or strong smelling deodorants, even fabric conditioners, anything that might set an asthmatic's condition off.
3. What is something you could do (or are already doing!) to help with a healthy air environment?
The same as 2. but also things like not having bonfires or incense burning, checking mould and keeping damp and mould at bay.
Listening - One Step At A Time!
@AffyAvo
Thank you for your informative post!
1. How has asthma impacted you or someone you know?
I have asthma but gratefully only a mild form that's well controlled with a daily inhaler. I know from other people though who have more extreme forms of it and I see how much it can disable people.
2. How could you support someone struggling with asthma?
I think the first thing is to take them seriously and if they don't already have a diagnosis, don't just blame it on being out of shape or something like that. Then, I think it's helpful to make sure that you don't expose them to their triggers. For example, don't wear perfumes or make sure there's no cross-contamination when preparing food.
3. What is something you could do (or are already doing!) to help with a healthy air environment?
As pollen is one of my main triggers, I try to only open the windows at night and not wear the same clothes outside and on the bed for example.
1. I have asthma. Very mild. My uncle has more severe asthma.
2. Offer to carry an inhaler for them, take breaks with them when needed, and do asthma-friendly activities with them.
3. I try to walk/bike places whenever I can.