Alberta Health Services is marking World Asthma Day today (May 1st) by raising awareness on proper diagnosis.

Program Manager for the COPD and Asthma Program of Calgary, Teresa Krahn, says Asthma is still a big concern in the Calgary area, Airdrie and across Southern Alberta.

“A lot of individuals may have Asthma and are not necessarily aware that they have it. It’s also a condition that can be controlled very well with lifestyle choices and medications.”

Krahn says that those who suffer face a variety of symptoms from shortness of breath, tightness in the chest and wheezing.

For those who don’t have their asthma properly diagnosed, it can make life tough.

“Individuals that have more severe Asthma and don’t have it diagnosed or don’t have it well under control,” says Krahn, “They may be presenting in Urgent Care and Emergencies with a great deal of frequency with significant breathing issues.”

Krahn goes on to say that some with severe breathing issues tend to miss days at work or school or not able to do certain recreational activities.

Thankfully doctors do have a simple respiratory test to determine if someone has asthma, which helps with treatment and management.

“Once we get that, [we] arm them with education on what to do to minimize their triggers, what medications might be best to look at in tandem with their physician or respirologist, how they can improve their quality of life and really manage their condition really well.”

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