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

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.