“You Can Control Your Asthma”

Asthma is a chronic disease characterized by recurrent attacks of breathlessness and wheezing, which vary in severity and frequency from person to person. Symptoms may occur several times in a day or week in affected individuals, and for some people become worse during physical activity or at night. During an asthma attack, the lining of the bronchial tubes swell, causing the airways to narrow and reducing the flow of air into and out of the lungs.

It is worth mentioning that asthma is an incommunicable disease, and its recurrent symptoms frequently cause sleeplessness, daytime fatigue, reduced activity levels and school and work absenteeism. Asthma has a relatively low fatality rate compared to other chronic diseases. To date, there are about 300.000.000 asthma patients around the world. On the domestic level, studies show that the incidence of asthma within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ranges from 15 to 25 per cent, varying from one region to another.

The World Asthma Day is celebrated throughout the world every year on the 7st of May. This year's Day is held under the theme: “You Can Control Your Asthma”, in pursuit of raising awareness of both patients, their families and the entire community on how to avoid and treat asthma.

 

 

Theme of the International Day:

 “You Can Control Your Asthma”

Sound treatment and prevention of asthmatic irritants keep you away from complications.

• Children and adults suffering from asthma.
• Patients' families.
• Health workers (doctors, pharmacists, nurses and health educationists).
• Education workers (teachers, social workers, etc.).
• Health decision-makers.
• Health associations and institutions.
• The public.

Major Health Messages of the World Asthma Day 2013:

• Promoting health awareness Health awareness among community members about the most important asthma irritants in the environment and how to prevent them.
• The role of treatment in preventing asthma and reducing its acuteness.

Logo of the World Asthma Day 2013: