May is Asthma Awareness Month | 12 Facts About Asthma

This late post is still relevant for the month of May which is Asthma Awareness Month.

12 Facts About Asthma

1. Asthma came from the Greek ἅσθμα which means "panting" and is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction and bronchospasm.
2. Common symptoms for asthma includes wheezing, coughing, chest tightness or pain in the chest, and shortness of breath.
3. Asthma, historically, was recognized in Ancient Egypt and was treated by drinking an incense mixture known as kyphi and it was officially named as a specific respiratory problem by Hippocrates circa 450 BC, with the Greek word for "panting" forming the basis of our modern name and in 200 BC it was believed to be at least partly related to the emotions.
4. During the 1930s–1950s, asthma was known as one of the "holy seven" psychosomatic illnesses with its cause was considered to be psychological, with treatment often based on psychoanalysis and other talking cures.
5. May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month declared by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) because the month of May is a peak season for asthma and allergy sufferers
6. World Asthma Day is an annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to improve asthma awareness and care around the world and it was celebrated last 6 May 2014.
7. Asthma is incurable and is considered as one of the most common lifelong chronic diseases affecting airways in lungs.
8. Asthma attacks are also called asthma episodes that are worse than usual which varies from being mild, moderate or severe.
9. Asthmatic attacks can be triggered by allergens, exercise, smoke, pollution, or airway infections.
10. In children, boys are more likely to develop asthma than girls, but in adults, women are more likely than men and it is a common myth that a child will outgrow his asthma.
11. Menstrual cycle affects asthma severity according to Haukeland University Hospital (Bergen, Norway) researchers' report found in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 
12. Nearly all cases of asthma-related deaths result from a lack of oxygen and not from cardiac arrest (This is significant because rapid oxygen administration can prevent asthma-related deaths).

References:

Asthma
May is National Awareness Month
What is Asthma
May is Asthma Awareness Month
11 Facts About Asthma
16 Interesting Asthma Facts You Should Know
10 facts on asthma
World Asthma Day
World Asthma Day 2014: May 6
How The Menstrual Cycle Affects Respiratory Symptoms, Including Asthma
Asthma Video Provided by Dustmitex.com

Yoga and Asthma
What happens during an asthma attack? Courtesy of the Department of Health South Australia