Asthma Awareness Month is observed every May after The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America declared the fifth month of the year to be National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month in 1984, as that’s typically when the peak season for asthma flare-ups falls. May being Asthma Awareness Month provides the ideal opportunity to highlight the debilitating impacts of the condition, which many can be unaware of.
During Asthma Awareness Month, many organisations committed to researching and fundraising for the condition, including those here in the UK, lead public awareness campaigns and a variety of events which you can get involved in.
Why is asthma awareness month important?
Chances are you know someone who lives with the inflammatory illness that is asthma. In the UK, over 8 million people have been diagnosed with the condition, that’s approximately 12%. Whilst some who contract the condition in childhood may grow out of it and research has indicated asthma may be significantly over-diagnosed, Asthma + Lung UK says around 5.4 million people are thought to be living with it in the UK. This equates to 1.1 million children (1 in 11) and 4.3 million adults (1 in 12).
People living with asthma have lung airways that react strongly to particular triggers, with allergies probably being the commonest cause. The airways get inflamed, prompting the muscles within them to tighten and thick mucus to be produced. Together, these factors narrow the airways and result in wheezing, mainly when a person exhales.
With such prevalence and impacting such a vital system in the body, Asthma Awareness Month helps inform us all about potential asthma causes and treatment, whilst stimulating fundraising. Equipped with the knowledge around causes, we may be able to prevent or minimise the condition for future generations. Fundraising, on the other hand, can pave the way for more research into improving treatments.
How to get involved in asthma awareness month
Fundraise for organisations dedicated to supporting those with asthma. Asthma + Lung UK share the idea of getting sponsored for taking up a healthy habit you’ve been meaning to embrace such as, yoga for a year. Alternatively, they suggest using sponsorship as a motivator to kick an unhealthy habit like smoking.
Encourage Clean Air Champions. Asthma + Lung UK also run a Clean Air Champions scheme for students to raise awareness, campaign and fundraise to advocate for cleaner air. Perhaps you could encourage your children’s school to take part? The Asthma and Lung UK website conveniently offers participants a place to track their walking distance and collect donations, should they opt for the sponsored walking challenge – which would also be great for keeping them active.
Volunteer for charities and organisations committed to improving the lives of those living with asthma. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation in Scotland, for instance, always welcomes volunteers, including those who live with asthma themselves. Volunteering can help you feel part of a community, and both may make you feel happier.
Attend asthma related events. From free coffee mornings with asthma healthcare professionals and local organisations to World Asthma Day receptions where you can hear from guest speakers including politicians, searching for events you can go along to on sites like Eventbrite or social media can help you uncover what’s on that interests you.
Share and engage. Speaking of social media, posting your photos from any events you attend or volunteering you do can inspire others to follow suit. Using relevant hashtags like #AAAM2023 (Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month) and #AsthmaAwarenessMonth can boost the visibility of your posts. Publishing positive comments and posing questions in active Facebook Groups such as ‘Parents of Children with Asthma’ and Asthma Support Group can also be fulfilling.
America’s Allergy and Asthma Network point to the importance of taking a “whole body approach” to managing allergies and asthma rather than simply relying on medications alone. This includes prioritising your sleep, exercise, nutrition and relaxation. Checking your vitamin D levels and nasal breathing may also help. Interestingly, looking after your gut health is always worthwhile, especially as an imbalance of microbes in both your gut and lung microbiome seem to be key causes of asthma.
These are all aspects of your health that the free Evergreen Life app can support you with by meeting you where you’re at, and helping you identify the changes relevant to you to further support your wellness.
Reviewed by:
Anna Keeble MA BA Head of Content and Wellbeing Expert
Dr Brian Fisher MBBch MBE MSc FRSA – Clinical Director
- Allergy & Asthma Network (2023) Lifestyle Changes to Manage Asthma. Allergy & Asthma Network.
- Asthma + Lung UK (2023) Fundraising ideas. Asthma + Lung UK.
- Asthma + Lung UK (2023) How it works. Asthma + Lung UK.
- Asthma + Lung UK (2023) Who we are. Asthma + Lung UK.
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation (n.d.) Volunteering. Asthma and Allergy Foundation.
- British Lung Foundation (2023) Asthma statistics. British Lung Foundation.
- Facebook (2023) Asthma Support Group. Facebook.
- Facebook (2023) Parents of Children with Asthma. Facebook.
- Joseph Carter (2023) Asthma + Lung UK Cymru – World asthma day reception. Eventbrite.
- Hufnagl K, Pali-Scholl I, Roth-Walter F, et al. (2020) Dysbiosis of the gut and lung microbiome has a role in asthma. Seminars in Immunopathology 42: 75-93 (doi: 10.1007/s00281-019-00775-y).
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2022) What is the prevalence of asthma? National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
- National Today (2023) National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month – May 2023. National Today.
- Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (2022) Essential facts, stats and quotes relating to asthma. Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee.
- South Stoke Central Primary Care Network (2023) Managing Asthma in Primary Care. Eventbrite.
