If you’re living with asthma, you’re already aware of the impact that the condition can have on your day-to-day life — but chances are strong that other people in your orbit don’t know as much as they could about the disease. That’s why it’s important to raise awareness for the condition — particularly in May, which is Asthma Awareness Month.

It can be hard when your friends and family don’t know what you’re going through. It can also feel difficult to say no to loved ones who don’t understand your situation, because you might worry about how your relationships will be affected.

Raising awareness of asthma is important so your friends, family, and acquaintances can better understand how to support you.

Start by Raising Your Own Awareness

Before you can create public awareness by sharing information with others, it’s a good idea to understand the specifics about asthma and asthma management. Learn more about asthma’s causes, signs and symptoms, and treatment options.

Asthma is a chronic lung condition that affects millions of people worldwide. More than 25 million people in the United States had asthma in 2019, including approximately 5.1 million children. Globally, an estimated 262 million people have asthma.

Asthma is a chronic pulmonary disease that causes periodic or persistent breathing problems, including shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing. Although asthma is incurable, it is highly manageable. Asthma is treated with maintenance medications that keep symptoms under control and rescue medications for severe episodes. Severe asthma can be life-threatening and may require emergency intervention and hospitalization.

The cause of asthma is not well understood. Most researchers believe asthma develops because of a combination of genetic and environmental risk factors. Asthma is often an allergic reaction related to an overreaction by the immune system in response to a substance that enters the lungs.

Share Awareness Resources

After you’re armed with information about asthma, you can share it with others. The fastest and least expensive way to take action is through social media. You can post information about the condition, share details about asthma triggers and asthma care, and join communities of other people who are also working to raise awareness for the chronic disease.

You can share resources such as this fact sheet from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). You can also follow the organization on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Additionally, to ensure your messages on social media reach as many people as possible, consider using an appropriate asthma-related hashtag, like #AsthmaAwarenessMonth or #AAFA. This way, your posts will be seen by more people who have the same interests, and they’re more likely to share and comment.

Social media helps raise awareness for the condition, and it also allows other people with asthma to realize they aren’t alone. Joining an asthma community on social media, such as MyAsthmaTeam, can also help you connect with others.

Participate in Awareness Activities

Another way to raise awareness about asthma is to participate in an activity dedicated to the cause. You can walk or run for asthma, play bingo, participate in fundraising events, or even create a unique event that works for your interests. You can help other people understand more about asthma while having fun and raising money for the cause.

If you are able, you can also donate (or encourage others to donate) to organizations like the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America to support asthma advocacy and research.

In addition, remember to engage in self-care. It is emotionally taxing to educate others about your lived experiences, so know your limits and accept when to put your mental well-being first.

Connect With Others Who Understand

On MyAsthmaTeam, more than 8,900 people living with asthma come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with the condition.

Share your asthma journey in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.