For many of us, breathing comes effortlessly. We may not give it any thought at all. Yet, behind every asthma diagnosis is a story to be told – something to be said. To showcase the unique journey of people living with asthma, we are shedding a light on their experiences through #DearAsthma. We encourage people to address asthma head-on and share their response to “What Needs to be Said to Asthma” on their social media channels.
There are approximately 1 million people in the U.S. living with severe asthma that is uncontrolled or biologic eligible.1-6 That is a lot of stories, all different and distinct from the next.
Asthma is a serious, chronic disease that causes the airways in the lungs to become swollen or inflamed and over-reactive to triggers like pollen, dust or smoke. Severe asthma is debilitating, with patients experiencing frequent exacerbations and significant limitations on lung function and health-related quality of life.3,4
For the millions of people globally living with severe asthma, breathing is very much at the forefront, and each breath brings unique struggles. Each person’s experience with severe asthma is different. Some say it feels like “waking up to an elephant sitting on your chest” or “breathing through a cocktail straw.” There is no one-size-fits-all profile of the disease.
Visit BreaktheCycle.com for more resources and information about asthma control.
References:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most Recent National Asthma Data. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/most_recent_national_asthma_data.htm. Accessed November 2021.
- Kupczyk M, Wenzel S. U.S. and European severe asthma cohorts: what can they teach us about severe asthma? J Intern Med 2012;272:121–32.
- Wenzel S. Severe Asthma in Adults. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2005;172;149–60.
- Chung KF, et al. International ERS/ATS guidelines on definition, evaluation and treatment of severe asthma. Eur Respir J. 2014; 43: 343–73.
- Chastek et al. J Manag Care Spec Pharm 2016;22:848-861.
- Chen et al. Curr Med Res Opin 2018;34(12):2075-2088.
