Asthma Canada says attacks are underestimated in new national survey

By AI, Created 9:58 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Asthma Canada marked World Asthma Day by releasing survey results showing major gaps in how Canadians recognize, respond to and follow up on asthma attacks. The group also launched a new C.A.R.E. framework to help people act faster during an emergency.

Why it matters: - Asthma attacks can become fatal quickly, and Asthma Canada says many Canadians still do not treat them as emergencies. - The survey points to missed chances to prevent deaths, improve self-management and get people back into care after an attack. - Asthma Canada says about six people die from asthma every week in Canada.

What happened: - Asthma Canada released findings from its national Asthma Attacks Survey on World Asthma Day. - More than 1,000 people across Canada completed the survey. - Asthma Canada launched its new C.A.R.E. campaign during Asthma Awareness Month. - The campaign is designed to help people recognize and respond to asthma attacks more quickly. - Asthma Canada directed the public to learn more about C.A.R.E.. - Asthma Canada also asked people to get involved in its 2026 Asthma Awareness Month efforts at asthma.ca/asthma-awareness-month-2026.

The details: - 74% of respondents living with asthma said they felt frightened or extremely frightened during an asthma attack. - 26% of respondents living with asthma said their symptoms were downplayed or not taken seriously during an attack. - 69% of people who live or work with asthma said they were confident or very confident they could recognize asthma attack symptoms. - Only 24% of people without asthma said the same. - 37% of respondents living with asthma said they do not have an Asthma Action Plan. - 50% of people living with or working with asthma said they would help manage an asthma attack in a stranger. - 17% of people without asthma said they would do the same. - Signs of an asthma attack include distressed breathing, wheezing, difficulty speaking, persistent coughing, lips or fingernails turning blue or grey, and chest tightness. - The C.A.R.E. guidance tells people to Calm the person, position them upright for Air, help with a Rescue Inhaler and call Emergency services if there is no inhaler or no improvement after use. - The guidance says a rescue inhaler is usually blue and a spacer should be used if available. - Asthma Canada says the C.A.R.E. guidance is general public information and does not replace personalized advice or an Asthma Action Plan from a healthcare professional. - Rachel Anne Normand of Ottawa said she did not know her son Jacob had asthma until he suffered a severe attack at age 3. - Normand said her family sought medical help right away. - Only 52% of respondents living with asthma said they spoke with a healthcare professional after an attack. - Just 28% said their Asthma Action Plan was updated after an attack. - Beach said people need to check in with healthcare professionals after an asthma attack. - Beach also said the first step is downloading an Asthma Action Plan and completing it with a healthcare provider.

Between the lines: - The survey suggests a disconnect between how often asthma is treated as routine and how dangerous the condition can be. - Low rates of Action Plan use and post-attack follow-up point to a broader care gap, not just a recognition problem. - The public education push also signals that Asthma Canada sees bystander response as part of the emergency chain, not just patient behavior.

What’s next: - Asthma Canada and its partners are using Asthma Awareness Month to push more Canadians toward action plans, faster recognition and better emergency response. - The organization is directing people to its awareness-month page and C.A.R.E. materials for more information.

The bottom line: - Asthma Canada wants Canadians to treat asthma attacks as medical emergencies, not routine flare-ups, and to act sooner both during and after an attack.