This World Asthma Day (Tuesday 6 May), people in the Black Country are being reminded of the signs and symptoms of asthma.
World Asthma Day is organised by the Global Initiative for Asthma, which aims to improve asthma awareness and care.
This year’s theme is "Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL” and focuses on the need to ensure that people with asthma can access inhaled medications that are essential both for controlling the underlying disease and treating attacks.
Asthma is a common lung condition that causes breathing difficulties. It affects people of all ages and often starts in childhood, although it can also develop for the first time in adults. The main symptoms of asthma are problems with breathing, such as:
- wheezing
- coughing
- shortness of breath
- your chest feeling tight.
Symptoms can vary in severity and may sometimes worsen suddenly, leading to what’s known as an asthma attack.
Lisa Cummings, Queens Nurse and Asthma Practitioner in the Children and Young People’s Asthma Team for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB) said: “World Asthma Day is a valuable opportunity to raise awareness about asthma, including the key signs and symptoms to look out for, and to remind everyone of the importance of seeking medical advice if they are concerned.
“Everyone’s asthma is different, and triggers can vary widely. Some of the most common triggers include colds or flu, air pollution, tobacco smoke, house dust mites, animal fur, and grass or tree pollen.
“Whilst the severity of symptoms varies from person to person, asthma is a serious condition so
it’s important that you don’t ignore symptoms and seek medical advice straight away if you’re concerned.”
The NHS is working in partnership with schools across the Black Country to improve awareness of asthma. The Asthma Friendly Schools programme is open to all schools across the Black Country to support them to create asthma-friendly environments, helping children to manage their condition effectively both at home and at school — ensuring they don’t miss out on their education or activities.
You can find more information about the Asthma Friendly Schools programme online here.
