WHO estimates that 235 million people currently suffer from asthma. Asthma is the most common noncommunicable disease among children and occurs in all countries regardless of development level, though most asthma-related deaths occur in low- and lower-middle income countries. Asthma is under-diagnosed and under-treated, creating a substantial burden for individuals and families by often restricting activities for life. The causes of asthma are not fully understood but include a combination of genetic and environmental factors such as indoor and outdoor allergens, air pollution, tobacco smoke, and certain medications. While asthma has no cure, appropriate management can control the disease and enable a good quality of life through short-term medications to relieve symptoms and long-term medications

1. Facts aboutasthma
WHO estimatesthat235 millionpeoplecurrentlysufferfromasthma.Asthmaisthe mostcommon
noncommunicabledisease amongchildren.
Asthmaisa publichealthproblemnotjustforhigh-incomecountries;itoccursin all countries
regardlessof the level of development.Mostasthma-relateddeathsoccurinlow- andlower-
middle income countries.
Asthmaisunder-diagnosedandunder-treated.Itcreatessubstantialburdentoindividualsand
familiesandoftenrestrictsindividuals’activitiesforalifetime.
The causes
The fundamental causesof asthmaare not completelyunderstood.The strongestriskfactorsfor
developingasthmaare a combinationof geneticpredispositionwithenvironmental exposureto
inhaledsubstancesandparticles thatmayprovoke allergicreactionsor irritate the airways,such
as:
indoorallergens(forexample,housedustmitesinbedding,carpetsandstuffedfurniture,
pollutionandpetdander),outdoorallergens(suchaspollensandmoulds), tobaccosmoke
chemical irritantsinthe workplace,airpollution.
Othertriggerscan include coldair,extreme emotional arousal suchasangeror fear,and physical
exercise.Evencertainmedicationscantriggerasthma:aspirinandothernon-steroidanti-
inflammatorydrugs,andbeta-blockers(whichare usedtotreathighbloodpressure,heart
conditionsandmigraine).
Urbanizationhasbeenassociatedwithanincrease inasthma.Butthe exactnature of this
relationshipisunclear.
Reducingthe asthmaburden
Althoughasthmacannotbe cured,appropriate managementcancontrol the disease andenable
people toenjoyagoodqualityof life.Short-termmedicationsare usedtorelieve symptoms.
Medicationssuchas long-terminhaledsteroidsare neededtocontrol the progressionof severe
asthma.
People withpersistentsymptomsmusttake long-termmedicationdailytocontrol the underlying
inflammationandpreventsymptomsandexacerbations.Inadequateaccesstomedicinesisone of
the importantreasonsforthe poor control of asthma inmany settings.
Medicationisnotthe onlywayto control asthma.It isalso importanttoavoidasthmatriggers -
stimuli thatirritate andinflame the airways.Withmedical support,eachasthmapatientmust
learnwhattriggershe or she shouldavoid.