Assembly Resolution No. 1266
BY: M. of A. DeStefano
MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
May 5, 2026, as Severe Asthma Day in the State of
New York, in conjunction with the observance of
World Asthma Day
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official days that are set aside to increase awareness of serious health
conditions that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and
WHEREAS, World Asthma Day is an annual event observed on the first
Tuesday of May each year to raise awareness about asthma, its symptoms,
and the importance of asthma management; the day aims to educate people
about the condition, promote better understanding of asthma care, and
improve the quality of life for those affected by the disease; and
WHEREAS, Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that affects the
airways in the lungs; it causes the airways to become inflamed and
narrowed, which makes it harder to breathe; people with asthma often
experience symptoms like: shortness of breath; wheezing; coughing,
especially at night or early in the morning; and chest tightness; and
WHEREAS, While asthma is a common respiratory condition affecting
millions worldwide, severe asthma represents a more complex and
challenging variant that requires special attention; unlike regular
asthma, which typically responds well to standard medications and allows
patients to maintain relatively normal daily activities, severe asthma
presents a more formidable challenge; and
WHEREAS, Patients with severe asthma experience persistent symptoms
despite adhering to high-dose medications, frequently requiring
emergency medical intervention and oral steroids for management; this
demanding form of asthma significantly impacts quality of life, with
sufferers experiencing regular night-time awakenings and limited
physical activities; and
WHEREAS, The economic burden is also substantially higher, as
patients require more frequent medical attention and specialized
treatments; while regular asthma patients can often identify and avoid
specific triggers, those with severe asthma face multiple, often elusive
triggers and commonly deal with additional health complications such as
chronic sinusitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); and
WHEREAS, Understanding these distinctions is crucial for healthcare
providers to develop appropriate treatment strategies and for patients
to receive the specialized care they need; and
WHEREAS, Severe asthma remains one of the most challenging
respiratory conditions to diagnose and manage, creating significant
hurdles for both healthcare providers and patients; unlike regular
asthma, which follows a relatively straightforward diagnostic path,
severe asthma often presents as a medical puzzle, requiring extensive
testing and elimination of other conditions before a definitive
diagnosis can be made; and
WHEREAS, The diagnostic journey is particularly complex because
healthcare providers must first confirm that patients are adhering to
their current treatment regimens and using proper inhaler techniques;
they must also rule out other conditions that might mimic severe asthma
symptoms, such as vocal cord dysfunction, bronchiectasis, or allergic
bronchopulmonary aspergillosis; and
WHEREAS, Management of severe asthma presents its own set of
challenges; patients often require a combination of high-dose inhaled
corticosteroids, long-acting beta-agonists, and additional controllers,
yet may still experience breakthrough symptoms; the introduction of
biological therapies has added another layer of complexity to treatment
decisions, as determining which patients will respond best to specific
biologics requires careful phenotyping and endotyping of their asthma;
and
WHEREAS, Moreover, severe asthma often coexists with other medical
conditions, creating a complex web of symptoms that can be difficult to
untangle; these comorbidities, including chronic rhinosinusitis, nasal
polyps, and obesity, can exacerbate asthma symptoms and complicate
treatment approaches; and
WHEREAS, The psychological burden of managing such a demanding
chronic condition can also lead to anxiety and depression, further
impacting quality of life and treatment adherence; and
WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
severe asthma, and more must be done to increase activity at the local,
state and national levels to support those afflicted as well as their
families and caregivers; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 5, 2026, as Severe
Asthma Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance
of World Asthma Day; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.
