World Asthma Day 2021: Theme this year aims to 'uncover misconceptions'; history and significance of day

World Asthma Day is observed every year to raise awareness about the chronic disease and how it can be controlled with proper treatment. The day is celebrated on the first Tuesday of May every year, and is being observed today, 4 May. Asthma is a chronic lung disease that has a long-lasting effect on an individual. It causes difficulty in breathing due to the narrow airways in the body. History of World Asthma Day: In collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Asthma Day was founded by Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) in 1993. Later in 1998, it was observed in more than 35 countries. According to WHO, this day is of major public health importance, because in 2016, it was predicted that more than 339 million people had asthma globally. Surprisingly, there were 4,17,918 deaths due to the disease at the global level. World Asthma Day 2021 Theme: This year’s theme is ‘Uncovering Asthma Misconceptions’, which aims at clearing misconceptions related to the complications of asthma. Some of the misconceptions related to asthma include: - Asthma is a childhood disease; an individual can grow out of it as they age - People suffering from Asthma should avoid exercising - Asthma can only be controlled with steroids - Asthma is infectious; others should stay away from it Here are a few effective steps to prevent asthma: - Any individual who is on medication needs to be regular on it - Keep a check on your breathing - It is best to keep a track of your asthma action plan