Dr. PN Agarwal revealed that asthma is reversible, unlike other chronic obstructive lung diseases. He further added that asthma cannot be cured, but it can be controlled. A one day workshop was organized by him for Asthma Day, on May's first Tuesday, for spreading the awareness and educating them to tackle the disease.

Asthma can be controlled, if it is diagnosed early and treatment is begun right away. People with asthma can have fewer and less severe attacks, with proper treatment. The reasons behind the alarming increase of asthma in India and other developed countries are numerous. Indoor allergens such as dust and mold can cause asthma. People tend to exercise less which has lead to an increase in obesity, and studies have linked asthma to obesity.

More than 17 million people are affected through asthma across the globe and a third of these are children. Though, it is slightly more common in African Americans than in other races.

Dr. Agarwal asserted that an attack is triggered, when the breathing passages becomes irritated or infected. The other symptoms include wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, coughing, and difficulty speaking.

Common triggers of asthma attacks include exposure to tobacco or wood smoke, breathing polluted air, inhaling other respiratory irritants such as perfumes or cleaning products and many more.