8 Ways We Spotlight Asthma Awareness on World Asthma Day

Every year on the first Tuesday of May, people around the world recognize World Asthma Day. It’s a time to raise public awareness, share resources, and advocate for better care for people living with asthma. This year, World Asthma Day falls on May 5, 2026. 

The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) selected this year’s theme. It’s “Access to anti-inflammatory inhalers for everyone with asthma – still an urgent need.”

The theme stresses the importance of inhaled medications for quick-relief and daily asthma control. Here at Allergy & Asthma Network, we work to ensure that every person with asthma, regardless of income, race, age, or location, has access to the inhaled medications they need to manage their condition.

U.S. and GINA asthma guidelines support the use of anti-inflammatory inhalers. A combination 2-in-1 inhaler containing both an inhaled corticosteroid and a quick-acting reliever is now recommended. It can treat symptoms, help prevent asthma flare-ups, and reduce hospitalizations.

Inhaled corticosteroids are a cornerstone of asthma care. These medications help treat the underlying inflammation that drives asthma symptoms. Without them, many people with asthma would not be able to control their asthma.

Why Access to Anti-Inflammatory Inhaled Treatments Matters 

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that affects about 28 million people in the United States. It requires more than symptoms relief alone. Medications like combination inhalers, quick-relief inhalers and daily controller inhalers help prevent and treat asthma symptoms.

But too many people face barriers to accessing these essential treatments. These may include: 

• High out-of-pocket medication costs 
• Lack of health insurance coverage 
• Limited access to specialists 

• Language and health literacy challenges
• Lack of awareness around the importance of anti-inflammatory treatment

When people don’t have access to their inhalers, asthma is harder to manage. They are at higher risk of asthma attacks. Emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and even asthma-related deaths can increase.

Asthma Education + Access = Empowered Care 

Education plays a key role in identifying asthma triggers and addressing barriers to care. When people understand how to manage asthma, they use their medications correctly. They also learn how to advocate for their health needs.

At the same time, healthcare systems must work to remove structural and financial barriers to ensure inhaled treatments are accessible for all. Education with access leads to empowered care.

How Allergy & Asthma Network Supports Access and Education 

We are committed to breaking down barriers to care with programs and events that combine education, health equity, and community outreach:

1. ControlYourAsthma.org

Check out or brand new resource hub designed to help patients and caregivers better understand asthma management and how to take control of their symptoms. The website includes a quick, easy-to-use asthma control quiz, educational content on recognizing symptoms, and practical steps to help prevent flare-ups. It encourages patients and caregivers to act early, follow their treatment plans, and work closely with healthcare providers to improve outcomes and quality of life.

Also available in Spanish! ControlaTuAsma.org

2. Trusted Messengers Program

Trusted Messengers is our award-winning, multifaceted health equity initiative. It is built on the belief that community-led solutions are essential to achieve equity in healthcare. The program helps people get the knowledge they need about asthma care from trusted, credible sources. It encourages patients to adopt healthy behaviors and make informed healthcare decisions.

Trusted Messengers has three parts: 

• Outreach events in under-resourced communities
• Partnerships with local groups
• Free virtual asthma coaching to improve asthma self-management skills – available in English and Spanish

This health equity initiative: 

• Enables asthma educators, respiratory therapists and coaches to meet people at health fairs and local events
• Provides easy-to-read, culturally responsive information in English and Spanish. Educational resources cover asthma, allergies, eczema, and other health issues
• Promotes trust in health professionals, self-management, self-advocacy, and shared decision-making
• Creates opportunities for patients to learn about asthma research. They can also learn about taking part in clinical trials.

3. Virtual Asthma Coaching Program

The free Virtual Asthma Coaching Program is an award-winning initiative to help asthma patients. It’s part of the Trusted Messengers program.

When people with asthma meet with certified asthma educators at Trusted Messengers events, they are invited to enroll in virtual asthma coaching. This is a free 6-week series of 1-on-1 online sessions – available in English and Spanish – with a certified asthma educator or respiratory therapist. They meet via a laptop computer, smartphone or tablet.

The focus of the sessions is on helping patients develop asthma self-management skills and learn how to keep their asthma under control. They learn what questions to ask their doctor and how to overcome barriers to their care.

Research shows that adults with uncontrolled asthma who take part in virtual asthma coaching have better asthma control and quality of life. They also have fewer doctor or emergency visits.

4. Share Your Story

Through our “Every Breath Has a Story Campaign,” we invite anyone living with or caring for someone with asthma to share their story and experiences with us. Your voice can help others feel seen, understood and empowered, and may even inspire someone to take control of their health.

Whether it’s a challenge you have overcome, a daily reality you navigate, or a message you want others to hear, your story has the power to make a difference.

Submit your video and be part of a community turning lived experiences into awareness, connection, and change.

5. USAsthma Summit

Our annual USAsthma Summit, now in its 12th year, takes place during the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) annual meeting. The all-day Summit brings together healthcare leaders and experts to address the state of asthma and asthma care in the United States.

Presenters and attendees share lessons learned and best practices from national, state and community asthma programs. They advance Guidelines-based asthma care, address health equity, promote greater access to care, review new treatments, and discuss ways to advocate for patients.

6. Free Asthma Webinars

Since 2018, Allergy & Asthma Network has offered free, hour-long educational webinars on asthma. These are powerful platforms for asthma education. The webinars offer Guidelines-based asthma education and information for healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers alike.

We offer three different types of webinars:

• Our Advances in Allergy & Asthma webinar series is offered in partnership with ACAAI. These webinars feature prominent allergists who are experts in asthma and allergic diseases. The webinars provide continuing medical education (CME) credits for healthcare professionals.
• Non-CME webinars cover current topics on asthma, allergies and related diseases.
• The Black People Like Me and Unidos Hablemos virtual conference series aim to serve Black and Hispanic/Latino American patients and caregivers. These online events seek to raise awareness of asthma and other respiratory diseases in those communities. Key discussions focus on health equity in communities where people have limited access to health care. The Unidos Hablemos series is offered in both English and Spanish.

7. Podcasts

Our Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Innovations podcast series is produced in partnership with allergist Payel Gupta, MD, and asthma, allergy and eczema patient Kortney Kwong Hing, co-hosts of The Itch Podcast. Together they raise awareness of asthma through expert conversations and lived experience. In the 30 minute podcasts, Dr. Gupta and Kortney discuss topics such as asthma control, oral corticosteroids, biologic medications, and more.

8. Online Resources

Allergy & Asthma Network’s online resources benefit patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. Resources are available for patient education on asthma, seasonal and environmental allergies, food allergies, and related conditions. They are designed to empower people to manage their asthma more effectively and improve outcomes.

Online resources are available on our websites:

• AllergyAsthmaNetwork.org
• ControlYourAsthma.org
• ControlaTuAsma.org (Spanish language website)
• RedAlergiaYAsma.org (Spanish language website)
• BiologicMeds.org
• EosAsthma.org
• NavigatingHealthInsurance.org

We also offer online resources through our online store. Many are available as free digital downloads.

Healthcare providers find our resources helpful for use in their clinics. The most popular resource is our Respiratory Treatments poster. It lists inhalers, biologics, and other medicines that treat respiratory illnesses (including COPD). The poster advocates for important conversations between patients and providers.

Let’s Make Anti-Inflammatory Inhaled Treatments Accessible for All

This World Asthma Day, stand with us to advocate for better access to lifesaving anti-inflammatory inhaled medications. Access to treatment should not depend on who you are or where you live.

By combining education, advocacy, and community-centered support, we can help more people get the treatment and information they need to breathe better and live healthier lives.

Special thanks to Amgen, AstraZeneca, Sanofi, and Regeneron for supporting our World Asthma Day awareness efforts.