While around 30 million Europeans live with asthma, up to 10% suffer of a severe form. The health community is analysing why this proportion of patients do not respond to usual asthma treatments. The objective is to develop medicines that allow patients control their asthma, reduce the symptoms and have a better quality of life.
In World Asthma Day 2018, we launched Severely, ASTHMA! a video series portraying six real severe asthma patients and their families throughout Europe, each bringing a unique insight on diagnosis, care, social and family life, being young with asthma, participating in research and living with air pollution. Their personal stories are universal in the world of asthma. They have adapted their lives and their stories echo the difficulties in getting the diagnosis and care that empower them. They are an example of resilience and through their videos they address themselves directly to other patients.
With this project we hope to have shed light into the daily impact severity asthma, to increase the awareness among patients that might still lack an accurate diagnosis, and to stress the pressing need to propose all patients with the right solution to their disease as early as possible.
 |
“If your doctor isn't giving you the diagnosis that you feel is right, you need to press that doctor, you need to seek out the things that will make your life better”. Peter, United kingdom |
|
|
“I happened to be at an exhibition one day when there was a pollution peak and with the crowd and the heavy air, I had to go to the emergency room right away”. Nadia, Italy
|
 |
“It's possible to have asthma and not to be limited by it. Think about the things that you can do and especially what makes you happy”. Anne, The Netherlands |
 |
“I would encourage people with asthma to get involved in research. You have a unique perspective and that is key”. Breda, Ireland |
 |
”People with asthma have to rethink their physical activities because I have noticed when I started training more and more, my asthma got better and better. It might not help for you – but who knows? You can at least try. That is my advice”. Pontus, Sweden |
 |
“As a carer never be afraid of asking questions: ask for help and talk to everyone, don’t hide the disease. It’s easier then to be included if you speak openly about it”. Mikaela, Sweden |