Asthma affects over 35 million in India

Dr Sanggita Checker

World Asthma Day, a major global health event, is being observed Today, May 6, 2025. Held annually on the first Tuesday of May, the day aims to raise awareness about the disease, improve care, and reduce the global health burden of this chronic respiratory disease. This year’s theme, Asthma Education Empowers, emphasises the life-changing impact of informed, proactive asthma management. Asthma remains a major public health issue in India, affecting an estimated 35 million people. Characterised by chronic inflammation of the airways, asthma leads to symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.

Despite being a manageable condition with proper treatment and lifestyle adjustments, asthma continues to severely impact the daily lives of millions across the country. In more serious cases, poorly managed asthma can lead to emergency hospitalisations and even fatalities. We recommend the need for increased awareness, early diagnosis, and access to affordable medication. Environmental triggers such as air pollution, dust, and seasonal changes are known to exacerbate symptoms, particularly in urban centers. India urgently needs a coordinated effort to improve asthma care, from community awareness to medical infrastructure.

As the cases continue to rise, public health initiatives focused on education, prevention, and access to care are critical to improving outcomes and reducing the burden of this chronic respiratory disease.

It is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways that affects people of all ages, though it often begins in childhood. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), over 300 million people globally live with it, and the number continues to rise. While the disease is both treatable and manageable, many patients still suffer due to lack of awareness, underdiagnosis, environmental triggers, and inconsistent access to healthcare.

In India, several myths surround its inhaled treatments, leading to misconceptions about their safety and effectiveness. These myths include the idea that inhalers are addictive, dangerous, or should only be used in severe cases. Some also believe inhalers can stunt growth or affect intelligence in children. These misconceptions can lead to suboptimal use of inhalers, impacting asthma management and patient outcomes.

World Asthma Day shines a spotlight on these challenges and calls for concrete actions to improve its outcomes at every level—from local clinics to global health policy. In celebration of World Asthma Day 2025, the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) has chosen the theme Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL.

GINA emphasises the need to ensure that people living with this disease can access inhaled medications that are essential both for controlling the underlying disease and treating attacks.

Dr Sanggita Checker is Consultant Pulmonologist
at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road, Mumbai